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Commodore  Thomas  Macdonough,  U.  S.  Navy 


U.  S.  Ship  Saratoga 
off  Plattsburgh,  September  n,  i8ip 


Sir: 

The  Almighty  has  been  pleased  to  grant  us  a signal  victory 
on  Lake  Champlain  in  the  capture  of  one  Frigate,  one  Brig  and 
two  sloops  of  war  of  the  enemy. 

I have  the  honor  to  be 

Very  respectfully, 

Sir,  your  ob’t.  Serv’t. 

T.  Macdonough,  Com. 


Hon.  IF.  Jones, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy . 


The 

Battle  of  Plattsburgh 

i» 


WHAT  HISTORIANS  SAY  ABOUT  IT 

47 


Obverse  of  Gold  Medal  presented  to  Commodore  Macdonough  by  Congress 


The  centennial  of  this  great  naval  contest,  the  last  fought  between  English- 
speaking  nations,  which  effectually  checked  the  British  advance  into 
New  York  and  hastened  the  consummation  of  peace,  is 
to  be  celebrated  at  Plattsburgh,  on  Lake 
Champlain,  New  York,  on  Septem- 
ber 6 to  11,  1914 


PI  <f  £ 9 ^ 

ALBANY,  N.  Y. 

J.  B.  LYON  COMPANY,  PRINTERS 
1914 


973,1-25  t> 
H P 


NEW  YORK  STATE  COMMISSION 
PLATTSBURGH  CENTENARY 


FRANCIS  LYNDE  STETSON,  Chairman,  15  Broad  Street,  New 
York  City. 

THOMAS  F.  CONWAY,  Vice-Chairman,  32  Nassau  Street,  New 
York  City. 

JAMES  A.  FOLEY,  Chairman  Executive  Committee,  261  Broad- 
way, New  York  City. 

LOREN  H.  WHITE,  Treasurer,  Delanson,  N.  Y. 

CHARLES  J.  VERT,  Secretary,  Plattsburgh,  N.  Y. 

REV.  JOHN  P.  CHIDWICK,  D.D.,  St.  Joseph’s  Seminary, 
Yonkers,  N.  Y. 

SALVATORE  A.  COTILLO,  273  Pleasant  Avenue,  New  York  City. 

JOHN  DORST,  Jr.,  Akron,  N.  Y. 

JAMES  A.  EMERSON,  Warrensburgh,  N.  Y. 

JOSEPH  H.  ESQUIROL,  25  Crooke  Avenue,  New  York  City. 

ALEXANDER  W.  FAIRBANK,  M.D.,  Chazy,  N.  Y. 

IRVING  I.  GOLDSMITH,  Saratoga  Springs,  N.  Y. 

JOHN  F.  HEALY,  New  Rochelle,  N.  Y. 

HENRY  W.  HILL,  906  Mutual  Life  Building,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

HENRY  HARMON  NOBLE,  Essex,  N.  Y. 

FRANKLIN  D.  ROOSEVELT,  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Navy, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

HENRY  M.  SAGE,  Menands,  N.  Y. 

FREDERICK  E.  WADHAMS,  37  Tweddle  Building,  Albany,  N.  Y. 


HOWARD  D.  HADLEY,  Assistant  Secretary,  Plattsburgh,  N.  Y. 

7 


CHAPTER  I 


THE  BATTLE  OF  PLATTSBURGH 


The  centennial  of  the  decisive  naval  victory  on  Lake  Champlain 
in  which  Commodore  Thomas  Macdonough  and  his  American 
squadron,  on  September  n,  1814,  defeated  a superior  British  foe  after 
one  of  the  most  hotly  contested  battles  in  history,  is  to  be  cele- 
brated at  Plattsburgh,  on  Lake  Champlain,  on  September  6 to  11, 
1914.  The  Plattsburgh  Centenary  Commission  is  now  arranging 
the  details  of  this  celebration  and  the  plans  for  a permanent 
memorial. 

For  the  purpose  of  placing  in  convenient  form  the  historical  data 
relating  to  this  battle  and  to  aid  those  who  may  wish  to  speak  or 
write  upon  this  subject,  this  pamphlet  has  been  issued. 

We  have  quoted  freely'  from  Admiral  Mahan’s  great  work  “ Sea 
Power  in  its  Relations  to  the  War  of  1812,”  and  we  have  included 
liberal  excerpts  from  the  writings  of  Maclay,  Lossing,  Cooper, 
Palmer  and  McMaster. 

The  description  of  the  battle  given  by  Theodore  Roosevelt  in  his 
book,  “ The  Naval  War  of  1812,”  finds  a leading  place  here. 

These  authorities  are  supplemented  and  confirmed  by  excerpts 
from  the  letters  of  Commodore  Thomas  Macdonough,  the  American 
commander  and  hero  of  Lake  Champlain,  and  Captain  Robert 
Henley,  one  of  his  chief  officers,  commander  of  the  brig  Eagle,  both 
of  which  were  written  to  Secretary  of  the  Navy  William  Jones;  and 
also  from  the  letter  of  Captain  Daniel  Pring,  of  the  British  brig 
Linnet  (who  became,  on  the  death  of  Captain  Downie,  commander 
of  the  squadron)  to  Sir  James  Lucas  Yeo,  commander-in-chief  of 
His  Majesty’s  ships  and  vessels  on  the  lakes  of  Canada.  There 
are  quotations,  too,  from  letters  of  General  Mooers,  who  commanded 
the  militia  and  of  General  Macomb,  who  was  in  command  of  all  the 
land  forces  in  the  Battle  of  Plattsburgh.  These  letters  give  a clear, 
“ close-range  ” pen  picture  of  the  great  contest. 


ROOSEVELT’S  DESCRIPTION 

Colonel  Roosevelt  says  of  the  battle : “ This  lake , which  had  hitherto 

played  but  an  inconspicuous  part,  was  now  to  become  the  scene  of  the 
greatest  naval  battle  of  the  war.  A British  army  of  14,000  men,  under 
Sir  George  Prevost,  undertook  the  invasion  of  New  York  by  advanc- 


9 


IO 


ing  up  the  western  bank  of  Lake  Champlain.  This  advance  was 
impracticable  unless  there  was  a sufficiently  strong  British  naval 
force  to  drive  back  the  American  squadron  at  the  same  time.  Accord- 
ingly, the  British  began  to  construct  a frigate,  the  Confiance,  to  be 
added  to  their  already  existing  force,  which  consisted  of  a brig,  two 
sloops  and  12  or  14  gunboats.  The  Americans  already  possessed  a 
heavy  corvette,  a schooner,  a small  sloop,  and  10  gunboats,  or  row- 
galleys;  they  now  began  to  build  a large  brig,  the  Eagle,  which  was 
launched  about  the  16th  of  August.  Nine  days  later,  on  the  25th, 
the  Confiance  was  launched.  The  two  squadrons  were  equally 
deficient  in  stores,  etc.;  the  Confiance  having  locks  to  her  guns,  some 
of  which  could  not  be  used,  while  the  American  schooner,  Ticonderoga, 
had  to  fire  her  guns  by  means  of  pistols  flashed  at  the  touchholes 
(like  Barclay  on  Lake  Erie).  Macdonough  and  Downie  were  hurried 
into  action  before  they  had  time  to  prepare  themselves  thoroughly; 
but  it  was  a disadvantage  common  to  both,  and  arose  from  the  nature 
of  the  case,  which  called  for  immediate  action.  The  British  army 
advanced  slowly  toward  Plattsburgh,  which  was  held  by  General 
Macomb,  with  less  than  2,000  effective  American  troops.  Captain 
Thomas  Macdonough,  the  American  commodore,  took  the  lake  a 
day  or  two  before  his  antagonist,  and  came  to  anchor  in  Plattsburgh 
harbor.  The  British  fleet  under  Captain  George  Downie  moved 
from  Isle-aux-Noix  on  September  8th,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  nth 
saded  into  Plattsburgh  harbor.” 

Colonel  Roosevelt  enters  into  a long  and  exhaustive  discussion  to 
show  that  the  British  squadron  was  larger  and,  from  the  standpoint 
of  armament,  much  more  effective  than  the  American  squadron. 
He  quotes  freely  from  British  and  American  authorities. 

Summing  up  his  deductions  he  gives  this  table  as  the  probable 
strength  of 


Macdonough’s 

Force 

Metal, 

from  long 

or  short 

Name 

Tons 

Crew 

Broadside 

guns 

Saratoga 

734 

240 

414  lbs.  < 

' long  96 
short  318 

Eagle 

. . . . 500 

150 

264  lbs.  1 

long  72 
short  192 

Ticonderoga 

350 

1 12 

180  lbs.  1 

1 long  84 
, short  96 

Preble 

. . . . 80 

30 

36  lbs. 

long  36 

Six  gunboats  .... 

. . . . 420 

246 

2C2  lbs  long  I44 

' ) short  108 

F our  gunboats  . . . 

. . . . 160 

104 

48  lbs. 

long  48 

In  all,  14  vessels  of  2,244  tons  an(I  882  men,  with  86  guns  throwing 
at  a broadside,  1,194  lbs.  of  shot,  480  from  long,  and  714  from  short 
guns. 


II 


He  quotes  Cooper  as  saying  that  the  Confiance  had  “ nearly 
double  the  tonnage  of  the  Saratoga  ” and  then  makes  this  significant 
statement:  “ She  ( the  Confiance)  had  aboard  a furnace  for  heating 
shot;  eight  or  ten  of  which  heated  shot  were  found  with  the  furnace.” 
This  statement  taken  in  connection  with  the  statement  of  Com- 
modore Macdonough,  quoted  elsewhere,  that  “ The  Saratoga  was 
tzvice  set  on  fire  by  hot  shot  from  the  enemy's  ships  ” adds  weight  to 
the  conclusion  that  the  purpose  was  to  burn  the  wooden  vessels  of 
the  Americans.  After  discussing  the  probable  strength  of  the 
British,  ship  by  ship,  he  says: 

The  following,  then,  is  the  force  of 


Downie’s  Squadron 


From  what 


guns, 
long  or 

Name 

Tonnage 

Crew 

Broadside 

short 

Confiance 

1 , 200 

325 

480  lbs.  | 

long  384 
[ short  96 

Linnet 

350 

125 

96  lbs. 

long  96 

Chub 

1 12 

5° 

96  lbs.  1 

( long  6 

1 short  90 

Finch  

1 10 

5° 

84  lbs.  -1 

1 long  12 

1 short  72 

Five  gunboats 

350 

205 

254  lbs.  < 

[ long  12 

1 short  72 

Seven  gunboats .... 

280 

182 

182  lbs.  \ 

[ long  54 
[ short  128 

In  all,  16  vessels  of  about  2,402  tons  with  937  men,  and  a total  of 
92  guns. 

Colonel  Roosevelt  then  again  takes  up  the  relative  strength  of  the 
British  and  American  squadrons  taking  issue  with  James,  the 
British  historian,  who  has  tried  to  show  that  the  Americans  were  much 
the  superior.  Colonel  Roosevelt  concludes  that  all  authorities  show 
that  the  Confiance  made  Downie’s  fleet  much  superior  to  Mac- 
donough’s. 


MACDONOUGH  READY 

Getting  down  to  the  actual  battle  Colonel  Roosevelt  says: 

Macdonough  saw  that  the  British  would  be  forced  to  make  the 
attack  in  order  to  get  control  of  the  waters.  On  this  long,  narrow 
lake  the  winds  usually  blow  pretty  nearly  north  or  south,  and  the 
set  of  the  current  is  of  course  northward;  all  the  vessels  being  flat 
and  shallow  could  not  beat  to  windward  well,  so  there  was  little 
chance  of  the  British  making  the  attack  when  there  was  a southerly 
wind  blowing.  So  late  in  the  season  there  was  danger  of  southern 
and  furious  gales,  which  would  make  it  risky  for  Dovvnie  to  wait 
outside  the  bay  till  the  wind  suited  him;  and  inside  the  bay  the  wind 
was  pretty  sure  to  be  light  and  baffling.  Young  Macdonough  (then 


A.  Fort  Moreau 

B.  Fort  Brown 

C.  Fort  Scott 

No. I . Block  House 
No.2.  “ 

No.3.  Excavation  for 

D.  Stores 


7he  C and  H in  broken  outline  and  with 
dotted  tracks  show  the  course  and  posi- 
tions intended  for  the  Con  fiance  and 
Chub,  which  they  were  unable  to  effect. 


British  Batteries 
No.  I.  3 Guns  and  I Howitzer 
No.2.  Pocket  Battery 
No.3.  Mortar  Battery 
No.4. 3 Guns  throwing  Shrapnels  Shells 
No. 5. 4 Guns  18  Pounders  and  Rocket  Battery 
No.6. 3 Heavy  Guns  and  Rockets 
No.  7.  Heavy  Guns  to  keep  off  the  Galleys 
No.8.  “ “ 

a.  a.  a.  British  Camps 


Diagram  showing  the  British  and  American  batteries  at  Plattsburgh  and  the 
positions  assumed  by  the  vessels  of  the  two  squadrons  during  the  engagement  of 
September  1 1,  1814. 


(By  permission  of  Captain  A.  T.  Mahan,  U.  S.  N.) 


*3 


but  28  years  of  age)  calculated  all  these  chances  very  coolly  and 
decided  to  wait  the  attack  at  anchor  in  Plattsburgh  Bay,  with  the 
head  of  his  line  so  far  to  the  north  that  it  could  hardly  be  turned; 
and  then  proceeded  to  make  all  the  other  preparations  with  the 
same  foresight.  Not  only  were  his  vessels  provided  with  springs, 
but  also  with  anchors  to  be  used  astern  in  any  emergency.  The 
Saratoga  was  further  prepared  for  a change  of  wind,  or  for  the  neces- 
sity of  winding  ship,  by  having  a kedge  planted  broad  off  on  each  of 
her  bows,  with  a hawser  and  preventer  hawser  (hanging  in  bights 
under  water)  leading  from  each  quarter  to  the  kedge  on  that  side. 
There  had  not  been  time  to  train  the  men  thoroughly  at  the  guns; 
and  to  make  these  produce  their  full  effect  the  constant  supervision  of 
the  officers  had  to  be  exerted.  The  British  were  laboring  under 
this  same  disadvantage,  but  neither  side  felt  the  want  very  much, 
as  the  smooth  water,  stationary  position  of  the  ships,  and  fair  range, 
made  the  fire  of  both  sides  very  destructive. 

PLATTSBURGH  BAY 

Plattsburgh  Bay  is  deep  and  opens  to  the  southward;  so  that  a wind 
which  would  enable  the  British  to  sail  up  the  lake  would  force  them 
to  beat  when  entering  the  bay.  The  east  side  of  the  mouth  of  the 
bay  is  formed  by  Cumberland  Head;  the  entrance  is  about  a mile 
and  a half  across,  and  the  other  boundary,  southwest  from  the  Head, 
is  an  extensive  shoal,  and  a small,  low  island.  This  is  called  Crab 
Island,  and  on  it  was  a hospital  and  one  six-pounder  gun,  which  was 
to  be  manned  in  case  of  necessity  by  the  strongest  patients.  Mac- 
donough  had  anchored  in  a north  and  south  line  a little  to  the  south 
of  the  outlet  of  the  Saranac,  and  out  of  range  of  the  shore  batteries, 
being  two  miles  from  the  western  shore.  The  head  of  this  line  was 
so  near  Cumberland  Head  that  an  attempt  to  turn  it  would  place 
the  opponent  under  a very  heavy  fire,  wffiile  to  the  south  the  shoal 
prevented  a flank  attack.  The  Eagle  lay  to  the  north,  flanked  on 
each  side  by  a couple  of  gunboats;  then  came  the  Saratoga  with 
three  gunboats  between  her  and  the  Ticonderoga,  the  next  in  line; 
then  came  three  gunboats  and  the  Preble.  The  four  large  vessels 
were  at  anchor;  the  galleys  being  under  their  sweeps  and  forming 
a second  line  about  40  yards  back,  some  of  them  keeping  their  places 
and  some  not  doing  so.  By  this  arrangement  his  line  could  not  be 
doubled  upon,  there  was  not  room  to  anchor  on  his  broadside  out 
of  reach  of  his  carronades,  and  the  enemy  was  forced  to  attack  him 
by  standing  in  bows  on. 

MORNING  OF  SEPTEMBER  11 

The  morning  of  September  nth  opened  with  a light  breeze  from 
the  northwest.  Downie’s  fleet  weighed  anchor  at  daylight,  and  came 
up  the  lake  with  the  wind  nearly  aft,  the  booms  of  the  two  sloops, 
swinging  out  to  starboard.  At  half  past  seven,  the  people  in  the 
ships  could  see  their  adversaries’  upper  sails  across  the  narrow  strip 
of  land  ending  in  Cumberland  Head,  before  the  British  doubled 


14 


the  latter.  Captain  Downie  hove  to  with  his  four  large  vessels, 
when  he  had  fairly  opened  the  bay,  -and  waited  for  his  galleys  to 
overtake  him.  Then  his  four  vessels  filled  on  the  starboard  tack 
and  headed  for  the  American  line,  going  abreast,  the  Chub  to  the 
north,  heading  well  to  windward  of  the  Eagle,  for  whose  bows  the 
Linnet  was  headed,  while  the  Confiance  was  to  be  laid  athwart  the 
hawser  of  the  Saratoga;  the  Finch  was  to  leeward  with  the  twelve 
gunboats,  and  was  to  engage  the  rear  of  the  American  line. 

As  the  English  squadron  stood  bravely  in,  young  Macdonough,  who 
feared  his  foes  not  at  all,  but  his  God  a great  deal,  knelt  for  a moment, 
with  his  officers  on  the  quarter-deck;  and  then  ensued  a few  minutes 
of  perfect  quiet,  the  men  waiting  with  grim  expectancy  for  the  opening 
of  the  fight.  The  Eagle  spoke  first  with  her  long  18’s,  but  to  no  effect, 
for  the  shot  fell  short.  Then,  as  the  Linnet  passed  the  Saratoga, 
she  fired  her  broadside  of  long  12’s,  but  her  shot  also  fell  short, 
except  one  that  struck  a hencoop  that  happened  to  be  aboard  the 
Saratoga.  There  was  a game  cock  inside,  and,  instead  of  being  frightened 
at  his  sudden  release,  he  jumped  up  on  a gun-slide,  clapped  his  wings, 
and  crowed  lustily.  The  men  laughed  and  cheered;  and  immediately 
afterward  Macdonough  himself  fired  the  first  shot  from  one  of  the 
long  guns.  The  24-pound  ball  struck  the  Confiance  near  the  hawse- 
hole  and  ranged  the  length  of  her  deck,  killing  and  wounding  several 
men.  All  the  American  long  guns  now  opened  and  were  replied  to 
by  the  British  galleys. 

CONFIANCE  SILENT 

The  Confiance  stood  steadily  on  without  replying.  But  she  was 
baffled  by  shifting  winds,  and  was  soon  so  cut  up,  having  both  her  port 
bow-anchors  shot  away,  and  suffering  much  loss,  that  she  was  obliged 
to  port  her  helm  and  come  to  while  still  nearly  a quarter  of  a mile 
distant  from  the  Saratoga.  Captain  Downie  came  to  anchor  in 
grand  style,  securing  everything  carefully  before  he  fired  a gun, 
and  then  opening  with  a terribly  destructive  broadside.  The  Chub 
and  Linnet  stood  farther  in,  and  anchored  forward  the  Eagle’s  beam. 
Meanwhile  the  Finch  got  abreast  of  the  Ticonderoga,  under  her 
sweeps,  supported  by  the  gun  boats.  The  main  fighting  was  thus 
to  take  place  between  the  vans,  where  the  Eagle,  Saratoga,  and  six, 
or  seven  gunboats  were  engaged  with  the  Chub,  Linnet,  Confiance, 
and  two  or  three  gunboats;  while  in  the  rear,  the  Ticonderoga,  the 
Preble,  and  the  other  American  galleys  engaged  the  Finch  and  the 
remaining  nine  or  ten  English  galleys.  The  battle  at  the  foot  of 
the  line  was  fought  on  the  part  of  the  Americans  to  prevent  their 
flank  being  turned,  and  on  the  part  of  the  British  to  effect  that 
object.  At  first  the  fighting  was  at  longe  range,  but  gradually  the 
British  galleys  closed  up,  firing  very  well.  The  American  galleys 
at  this  end  of  the  line  were  chiefly  the  small  ones,  armed  with  one 
12-pounder  apiece,  and  they  by  degrees  drew  back,  before  the  heavy 
fire  of  their  opponents.  About  an  hour  after  the  discharge  of  the 
first  gun  had  been  fired  the  Finch  closed  up  toward  the  Ticonderoga, 
and  was  completely  crippled  by  a couple  of  broadsides  from  the  latter. 


She  drifted  helplessly  down  the  line  and  grounded  near  Crab  Island; 
some  of  the  convalescent  patients  manned  the  six-pounder  and  fired 
a shot  or  two  at  her,  when  she  struck,  nearly  half  of  her  crew  being 
killed  or  wounded.  About  the  same  time  the  British  gunboats 
forced  the  Preble  out  of  line,  whereupon  she  cut  her  cable  and  drifted 
inshore  out  of  the  fight.  Two  or  three  of  the  British  gunboats, 
had  already  been  sufficiently  damaged  by  some  of  the  shot  from  the 
Ticonderoga’s  long  guns  to  make  them  wary;  and  the  contest  at 
this  part  of  the  line  narrowed  down  to  one  between  the  American 
schooner  and  the  remaining  British  gunboats  who  combined  to  make 
a most  determined  attack  upon  her.  So  hastily  had  the  squadron 
been  fitted  out  that  many  of  the  matches  for  her  guns  were  at  the  last 
moment  found  to  be  defective.  The  Captain  of  one  of  the  divisions 
was  a midshipman,  but  16  years  old , Hiram  Paulding.  When  he  found 
the  matches  to  be  bad  he  fired  the  guns  of  his  section  by  having  pistols 
flashed  at  them,  and  continued  this  through  the  whole  fight.  The  1 icon- 
deroga’s  commander,  Lieutenant  Cassin,  fought  his  schooner  most 
nobly.  He  kept  walking  the  taffrail  amidst  showers  of  musketry 
and  grape,  coolly  watching  the  movements  of  the  galleys  and  directing 
the  guns  to  be  loaded  with  canister  and  bags  of  bullets  when  the 
enemy  tried  to  board.  The  British  galleys  were  handled  with 
determined  gallantry,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Bell. 
Had  they  driven  off  the  Ticonderoga  they  would  have  won  the  day 
for  their  side,  and  they  pushed  up  till  they  were  not  a boathook’s 
length  distant,  to  try  to  carry  her  by  boarding;  but  every  attempt 
was  repulsed  and  they  were  forced  to  draw  off,  some  of  them  so 
crippled  by  the  slaughter  they  had  suffered  that  they  could  hardly 
man  the  oars. 


FIRST  BROADSIDE 

Meanwhile  the  fighting  at  the  head  of  the  line  had  been  even 
fiercer.  The  first  broadside  of  the  Confiance,  fired  from  16  long 
24’s,  double  shotted,  coolly  sighted  in  smooth  water,  at  point  blank 
range,  produced  the  most  terrible  effect  on  the  Saratoga.  Her  hull 
shivered  all  over  with  the  shock,  and  when  the  crash  subsided  nearly 
half  of  her  people  were  seen  stretched  on  deck,  for  many  had  been 
knocked  down,  who  were  not  seriously  hurt.  Among  the  slain 
was  her  first  lieutenant,  Peter  Gamble  ; he  was  kneeling  down  to 
sight  the  bow-gun,  when  a shot  entered  the  port,  split  the  quoin, 
and  drove  a portion  of  it  against  his  side,  killing  him  without  breaking 
the  skin.  1 he  survivors  carried  on  the  fight  with  undiminished 
energy.  Macdonough  himself  worked  like  a common  sailor,  in 
pointing  and  handling  a favorite  gun.  While  bending  over 
to  sight  it,  a round  shot  cut  in  two  the  spanker  boom,  which 
fell  on  his  head  and  struck  him  senseless  for  two  or  three 
minutes;  he  then  leaped  to  his  feet  and  continued  as  before, 
when  a shot  took  off  the  head  of  the  captain  of  the  gun 
crew  and  drove  it  in  his  face  with  such  a force  as 
to  knock  him  to  the  other  side  of  the  deck,  but  after  the 
first  broadside  not  so  much  injury  was  done;  the  guns  of  the  Con- 


(From  Fainting  by  D ividson,  ouned  by  Hon.  Smith  M.  Weed , Plattsburgh.) 


17 


fiance  had  been  leveled  to  point  blank  range,  and  as  the  quoins  were 
loosened  by  the  success  of  discharges  they  were  not  properly  replaced, 
so  that  her  broadside  kept  going  higher  and  higher,  and  doing  less 
and  less  damage.  Very  shortly  after  the  beginning  of  the  action 
her  gallant  captain  was  slain.  He  was  standing  behind  one  of  the 
long  guns,  when  a shot  from  the  Saratoga  struck  it,  and  threw  it 
completely  off  the  carriage  against  his  right  groin  killing  him  almost 
instantly.  His  skin  was  not  broken,  a black  mark  about  the  size 
of  a small  plate  was  the  only  visible  injury.  His  watch  was  found 
flattened,  with  its  hands  pointing  to  the  very  second  at  which  he 
received  the  fatal  blow.  As  the  contest  went  on  the  fire  gradually 
decreased  in  weight,  the  guns  being  disabled.  The  inexperience  of 
both  crews  partly  caused  this.  The  American  sailors  overloaded 
their  carronades  so  as  to  very  much  destroy  the  effect  of  the  fire; 
when  the  officers  became  disabled,  the  men  would  cram  the  guns 
with  shot  till  the  last  projected  from  the  muzzle;  of  course,  this 
lessened  the  execution,  and  also  gradually  crippled  the  guns.  On 
board  the  Confiance  the  confusion  was  even  worse;  after  the  battle 
the  charges  of  the  guns  were  drawn,  and  on  the  side  she  had  fought 
one  was  found  with  a canvas  bag  containing  two  round  of  shot  rammed 
home  and  wadded  without  any  powder;  another  with  two  cartridges 
and  no  shot;  and  a third  with  a wad  below  the  cartridge. 

A BRISK  ENGAGEMENT 

At  the  extreme  head  of  the  line  the  advantage  had  been  with 
the  British.  The  Chub  and  Linnet  had  begun  a brisk  engagement 
with  the  Eagle  and  American  gunboats.  In  a short  time  the  Chub 
had  her  cable,  bow-sprit  and  main-boom  shot  away,  drifted  within 
the  American  lines,  and  was  taken  possession  of  by  one  of  the 
Saratoga’s  midshipman.  The  Linnet  paid  no  attention  to  the 
American  gunboats,  directing  her  whole  fire  against  the  Eagle, 
and  the  latter  was,  in  addition,  exposed  to  part  of  the  fire  of  the 
Confiance.  After  keeping  up  a heavy  fire  for  a long  time  her 
springs  were  shot  away,  and  she  came  up  into  the  wind,  hanging 
so  that  she  could  not  return  a shot  to  the  well  directed  broadsides 
of  the  Linnet.  Henley  accordingly  cut  his  cable,  started  home 
his  top-sails,  ran  down,  and  anchored  by  the  stern  between  and  inshore 
of  the  Confiance  and  Ticonderoga,  from  which  position  he  opened 
on  the  Confiance.  The  Linnet  now  directed  her  attention  to  the 
American  gunboats,  which  at  this  end  of  the  line  were  very  well 
fought,  but  she  soon  drove  them  off,  and  then  sprung  her  broadside 
so  as  to  rake  the  Saratoga  on  her  bows. 

Macdonough  by  this  time  had  his  hands  full,  and  his  fire  was  slacken- 
ing; he  was  bearing  the  whole  brunt  of  the  action,  with  the  frigate 
on  his  beam  and  the  brig  raking  him.  Twice  his  ship  had  been  set 
on  fire  by  the  hot  shot  of  the  Confiance;  one  by  one  his  long  guns  were 
disabled  by  shot,  and  his  carronades  were  either  treated  the  same  way 
or  else  rendered  useless  by  excessive  overcharging.  Finally  but  a 
single  carronade  was  left  in  the  starboard  batteries  and  on  manning 
it  the  naval-bolt  broke,  the  gun  flew  off  the  carriage  and  fell  down 


i8 


the  main  hatch,  leaving  the  Commodore  without  a single  gun  to 
\ oppose  to  the  few  the  Confiance  still  presented.  The  battle  would 
have  been  lost  had  not  Macdonough’s  foresight  provided  the  means 
of  retrieving  it.  The  anchor  suspended  astern  of  the  Saratoga  was 
let  go,  and  the  men  hauled  in  on  the  hawser  that  led  to  the  starboard 
quarter,  bringing  the  ship’s  stern  up  over  the  kedge.  The  ship  now 
rode  by  the  kedge  and  by  a line  that  had  been  bent  to  a bight  in 
the  stern  cable,  and  she  was  raked  badly  by  the  accurate  fire  of  the 
Linnet.  By  rousing  on  the  line  the  ship  was  at  length  got  so  far 
round  that  the  aftermost  gun  of  the  port  broadside  bore  on  the  Con- 
fiance.  The  men  had  been  sent  forward  to  keep  as  much  out  of 
harm’s  way  as  possible,  and  now  some  were  at  once  called  back  to 
man  the  piece,  which  then  opened  with  effect.  The  next  gun  was 
treated  in  the  same  manner;  but  the  ship  now  hung  and  would  go  no 
farther  round.  1 he  hawser  leading  from  the  port  quarter  was  then 
got  forward  under  the  bows  and  passed  aft  to  the  starboard  quarter, 
and  a minute  afterward  the  ship’s  whole  port  battery  opened  with 
fatal  effect.  The  Confiance  meanwhile  had  also  attempted  to  round. 
Her  springs,  like  those  of  the  Linnet,  were  on  the  starboard  side, 
and  so  of  course  could  not  be  shot  away  as  the  Eagle’s  were;  but, 
as  she  had  nothing  but  springs  to  rely  on,  her  efforts  did  little  beyond 
forcing  her  forward  and  she  hung  with  her  head  to  the  wind.  She 
had  lost  over  half  of  her  crew,  most  of  her  guns  on  the  engaged  side  were 
dismounted,  and  her  stout  masts  had  been  splintered  till  they  looked  like 
bundles  of  matches,  her  sails  had  been  torn  to  rags,  and  she  was  forced 
to  strike  about  two  hours  after  she  had  fired  the  first  broadside. 
Without  pausing  a minute  the  Saratoga  again  hauled  on  her  star- 
board hawser  till  her  broadside  was  sprung  to  bear  on  the  Linnet, 
and  the  ship  and  brig  began  a brisk  fight,  which  the  Eagle  from  her 
position  could  take  no  part  in,  while  the  Ticonderoga  was  just 
finishing  up  the  British  galleys.  The  shattered  and  disabled  state 
of  the  Linnet’s  masts,  sails,  and  yards  precluded  the  most  distant 
hope  of  Captain  Pring’s  effecting  his  escape  by  cutting  his  cable, 
but  he  kept  up  a most  gallant  fight  with  his  greatly  superior  foe, 
in  hopes  that  some  of  the  gunboats  would  come  and  tow  him  off, 
and  dispatched  a lieutenant  to  the  Confiance  to  ascertain  her 
state.  The  Lieutenant  returned  with  news  of  Captain  Downie’s 
death  while  the  British  gunboats  had  been  driven  half  a mile 
off;  and,  after  having  maintained  the  fight  single-handed  for 
fifteen  minutes,  until  from  the  number  of  shots  between  wind 
and  water,  the  water  had  risen  a foot  above  her  lower  deck,  the 
plucky  little  brig  hauled  down  her  colors,  and  the  fight  ended.  A 
little  over  two  hours  and  a half  after  the  first  gun  had  been  fired  not 
one  of  the  larger  vessels  had  a mast  that  would  bear  canvas,  and  the 
prizes  were  in  a sinking  condition.  The  British  galleys  drifted  to 
leeward,  none  with  their  colors  up,  but  as  the  Saratoga’s  boarding- 
official  passed  along  the  deck  of  the  Confiance  he  accidently  ran 
against  a lock  spring  of  one  of  her  starboard  guns,  and  it  went  off. 
This  was  apparently  understood  as  a signal  by  the  galleys,  and 
they  moved  slowly  off,  pulling  but  a very  few  sweeps,  and  not  one  of 
them  hoisting  an  ensign. 


Gent.  Power 


kOR6Au 


.Chubb 

^Linnet 


Saratoga^ 
Ticonderoga  | 
Preble=| 


iConfiance 


Finch 


iuHX 


BATTLE  OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 


20 


SHIPS  MUCH  CUT  UP 

On  both  sides  the  ships  had  been  cut  up  in  a most  extraordinar}^ 
manner;  the  Saratoga  had  55  shot  holes  in  her  hull,  and  the 
Confiance  105  in  hers,  and  the  Eagle  and  Linnet  had  suffered  in  pro- 
portion. The  number  killed  and  wounded  cannot  be  exactly  stated; 
it  was  probably  about  200  on  the  American  side,  and  over  300 
on  the  British.* 


EFFECT  OF  VICTORY 

The  effects  of  the  victory  were  immediate  and  of  the  highest 
importance.  Sir  George  Prevost  and  his  army  at  once  fled  in  great 
haste  and  confusion  back  to  Canada,  leaving  our  northern  frontier 
clear  for  the  remainder  of  the  war,  for  the  victory  had  a very  great  effect 
on  the  negotiations  for  peace. 

In  the  battle  the  crews  on  both  sides  behaved  with  equal  bravery 
and  left  nothing  to  be  desired  in  this  respect;  but  from  their  rawness 
of  course  they  showed  far  less  skill  than  the  crews  of  most  of  the  Amer- 
ican and  some  of  the  British  ocean  cruisers,  such  as  the  “ Consti- 
tution ” or  “ United  States,”  a Shannon,  the  Hornet,  the  Wasp,  or  a 
Reindeer.  Lieutenant  Cassin  handled  the  Ticonderoga,  and 
Captain  Pring  the  Linnet,  with  the  utmost  gallantry  and  skill; 
after  Macdonough  they  divided  the  honors  of  the  day.  But  Mac- 
donough  in  this  battle  won  a higher  fame  than  any  other  com- 
mander of  the  war , British  or  American.  He  had  a decidedly 
superior  force  to  contend  against,  the  officers  and  men  of 
the  two  sides  being  about  on  a par  in  every  respect;  and  it  was 
solely  OWING  TO  HIS  FORESIGHT  AND  RESOURCE 


* Macdonough  returned  his  loss  as  follows: 

Saratoga 

Eagle 

Ticonderoga 

Preble 

Boxer 

Centipede 

Wilmer 


Killed  Wounded 
23  29 

13  20 

6 6 

2 

3 1 

1 

1 


A total  of  52  killed  and  38  wounded;  but  the  latter  had  apparently  only  included 
those  who  had  to  go  to  the  hospital.  Probably  about  90  additional  were  more  or 
less  slightly  wounded.  Captain  Pring,  in  his  letter  of  September  1 2th,  says  the  Con- 
fiance  had  41  killed  and  40  wounded;  the  Linnet,  10  killed  and  14  wounded, 
the  Chub,  6 killed  and  16  wounded;  the  Finch,  2 wounded;  in  all,  57  killed 
and  72  wounded.  But  he  adds  “that  no  opportunity  has  offered  to  muster  * * * this 
is  the  whole  as  yet  ascertained  to  be  killed  or  wounded.”  The  Americans  took  out 
180  dead  and  wounded  from  the  Confiance,  50  from  the  Linnet,  and  40  from  the  Chub 
and  Finch;  in  all  270.  James  (“  Naval  Occurrences,”  p.  412)  says  the  Confiance  had 
83  wounded.  As  Captain  Pring  wrote  his  letter  in  Plattsburgh  Bay,  the  day  after  the 
action,  he  of  course  could  not  give  the  loss  aboard  the  British  gunboats;  so  James 
at  once  assumed  that  they  suffered  none.  As  well  as  could  be  found  out  he  had 
between  50  and  100  killed  and  wounded.  The  total  British  loss  was  between  300 
and  400,  as  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained.  For  this  action,  as  already  shown,  James 
is  of  no  use  whatever.  Compare  his  statements,  for  example,  with  those  of  Mid- 
shipman Lee,  in  the  “ Naval  Chronicle.”  The  comparative  loss,  as  a means  of  testing 
the  competitive  prowess  of  the  combatants,  is  not  of  much  consequence  in  this  case, 
as  the  weaker  party,  in  point  of  force,  conquered. 


21 


that  we  zvon  the  victory.  He  forced  the  British  to  engage  at  a dis- 
advantage by  his  excellent  choice  of  position;  and  he  prepared  before- 
hand for  every  possible  contingency.  His  personal  prowess  had 
already  been  shown  at  the  cost  of  the  rovers  of  Tripoli,  and  in  this 
action  he  helped  to  fight  the  guns  as  ably  as  the  best  sailor.  His 
skill,  seamanship,  quick  eye,  readiness  of  resource,  and  indomitable 
pluck,  are  beyond  all  praise.  Down  to  the  time  of  the  Civil  War,  he 
is  the  greatest  figure  in  our  naval  history.  A thoroughly  religious  man, 
he  was  generous  and  human,  and  he  was  skillful  and  brave.  One  of 
the  greatest  of  our  sea  captains,  he  has  left  a stainless  name  behind 
him.”  This  is  high  praise,  indeed,  by  Roosevelt,  but  it  is  supported 
by  all  the  other  authorities,  as  will  be  seen. 

WHAT  PALMER  SAYS  OF  THE  BATTLE 

Peter  S.  Palmer  in  his  description  of  the  battle  concludes  with  an 
interesting  account  of  the  action  of  the  land  forces  under  General 
Prevost,  and  as  this  army  was  supposed  to  have  planned  to  aid 
Downie  but  was  turned  back  by  Macdonough’s  unexpected  victory, 
the  description  is  interesting  and  instructive. 

Mr.  Palmer  says: 

When  the  British  army  reached  Plattsburgh,  their  gunboats  had 
advanced  as  far  as  the  Isle  La  Motte,  where  they  remained,  under 
command  of  Captain  Pring.  On  the  8th  Captain  Downie  reached 
that  place  with  the  rest  of  the  fleet,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  nth, 
the  whole  weighed  anchor  and  stood  south  to  attack  the  Americans, 
who  lay  in  the  bay,  off  Plattsburgh. 

As  the  British  vessels  rounded  Cumberland  Head,  about  eight 
o’clock  in  the  morning,  they  found  Macdonough  at  anchor  a little 
south  of  the  mouth  of  the  Saranac  river,  and  abreast,  but  out  of 
gun  shot,  of  the  forts.  His  vessels  lay  in  a line  running  north  from 
Crab  Island,  and  nearly  parallel  with  the  west  shore. 

The  brig  Eagle,  Captain  Henley,  lay  at  the  head  of  the  line, 
inside  of  the  point  of  the  head.  This  vessel  mounted  twenty  guns 
and  had  on  board  one  hundred  and  fifty  men.  Next  to  her  and  on  the 
south  lay  Macdonough’s  flag-ship,  the  Saratoga,  mounting  twenty-six 
guns,  with  two  hundred  and  twelve  men.  Next  south  was  the 
schooner  Ticonderoga,  of  seventeen  guns,  Lieutenant  Cassin,  with 
one  hundred  and  ten  men,  and  next  to  her,  and  at  the  southern 
extremity  of  the  line,  lay  the  sloop  Preble,  Lieut.  Charles  Budd. 
This  vessel  carried  seven  guns  and  was  manned  by  thirty  men. 
She  lay  so  near  the  shoal  extending  northeast  from  Crab  Island, 
as  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  turning  that  end  of  the  line.  To  the 
rear  of  the  line  were  ten  gunboats,  six  of  which  mounted  one  long 
twenty-four  pounder  and  one  eighteen-pound  columbiad  each ; the 
other  four  carried  one  twelve-pounder.  The  gunboats  had,  on  an 
average,  thirty-five  men  each.  Two  of  the  gunboats  lay  a little 
north  and  in  the  rear  of  the  Eagle,  to  sustain  the  head  of  the  line; 
the  others  were  placed  opposite  the  intervals  between  the  different 
vessels,  and  about  forty  rods  to  their  rear.  The  larger  vessels  were 
at  anchor,  while  the  gunboats  were  kept  in  position  by  their  sweeps. 


The  Commodore’s]  pencil  sketch  (slightly  reduced)  of  the  positions  of  the 
British  and  American  squadrons  before  and  during  the  action  of  September  ll>  1814. 


23 


The  British  fleet  was  composed  of  the  frigate  Confiance,  carrying 
thirty-seven  guns,*  with  over  three  hundred  men,  commanded  by 
Captain  Downie;  the  brig  Linnet,  Captain  Pring,  of  sixteen  guns 
and  one  hundred  and  twenty  men;  the  sloop  Chub,  Lieutenant 
McGhee  and  the  sloop  Finch,  Lieutenant  Hicks,  carrying  eleven 
guns  and  about  forty-five  men  each.  To  these  vessels  were  added 
twelve  gunboats  of  about  forty-five  men  each.  Eight  of  them 
carried  two  guns,  and  four,  one  gun  each.  Thus  the  force  of  the 
Americans  consisted  of  one  ship,  one  brig,  one  schooner,  one  sloop, 
and  ten  gunboats,  manned  by  eight  hundred  and  eighty-two  men, 
and  carrying  in  all  eighty-six  guns.  The  metal  of  the  vessels  on  both 
sides  was  unusually  heavy. 

The  Saratoga  mounted  eight  long  twenty-fours,  six  forty-twos, 
and  twelve  thirty-twos,  wfflile  the  Confiance  had  the  gun-deck  of 
a heavy  frigate,  with  thirty  long  twenty-fours  upon  it.  She  also 
had  a spacious  top  gallant  forecastle,  and  a poop  that  came  no  further 
forward  than  the  mizzen-mast.  On  the  first  were  a long  twenty- 
four  on  a circle,  and  four  heavy  carronades  were  mounted  on  the 
poop,  t 


THE  FINCH  LED 

When  the  British  fleet  appeared  in  sight  the  Finch  led  and  kept 
in  a course  toward  Crab  Island,  while  the  other  vessels  hove  to 
opposite  the  point  of  Cumberland  Head,  to  allow  the  gunboats  to 
come  up,  and  to  receive  final  instructions  as  to  the  plan  of  attack. 
The  vessels  then  filled  and  headed  in  towards  the  American  fleet, 
passing  inside  of  the  point  of  Cumberland  Head;  the  Chub  laying 
her  course  a little  to  windward  of  the  Eagle  in  order  to  support 
the  Linnet,  which  stood  directly  towards  that  vessel.  Captain 
Downie,  had  determined  to  lay  the  Confiance  athwart  the  Saratoga, 
but  the  wind  baffling  he  was  obliged  to  anchor  at  about  two  cables’ 
length  from  that  ship.  The  Finch,  which  had  run  about  halfway 
to  Crab  Island,  tacked  and  took  her  station  with  the  gunboats, 
opposite  the  Ticonderoga  and  Preble. 

As  the  British  vessels  approached  they  received  the  fire  of  the 
American  fleet;  the  brig  Eagle  firing  first,  and  being  soon  followed 
by  the  Saratoga  and  the  sloop  and  schooner.  J The  Linnet  poured 

* There  were  thirty-nine  guns  on  board  the  Confiance,  but  two  of  them  were  not 
mounted. — Cooper. 

f Cooper’s  Naval  History.  Mr.  Alison  (in  his  History  of  England,  Vol.  4)  says:  “ The 
relative  strength  of  the  squadron  on  this,  as  in  every  other  naval  action  during  the 
war  where  the  British  were  defeated,  was  decidedly  in  favor  of  the  Americans  ” — 
a statement  unwarranted  by  the  facts  and  unnecessary  to  sustain  the  high  reputation 
of  the  British  Navy.  The  Americans  had  86  guns;  the  British,  95. 

{The  first  gun  fired  on  board  the  Saratoga  was  a long  twenty-four,  which  Mac- 
donough  himself  sighted.  The  shot  is  said  to  have  struck  the  Confiance  near  the  outer 
hawse-hole,  and  to  have  passed  the  length  of  her  deck,  killing  and  wounding  several 
men  and  carrying  away  the  wheel.  In  clearing  the  decks  of  the  Saratoga,  some 
hencoops  were  thrown  overboard  and  the  poultry  permitted  to  run  at  large.  Startled 
by  the  report  of  the  opening  gun  of  the  Eagle  a young  cock  flew  upon  a gun  slide, 
clapped  his  wings  and  crowed.  The  men  gave  three  cheers  and  considered  the  little 
incident  as  a happy  omen.  (Cooper’s  Naval  History  and  Niles’  Register.) 


24 


her  broadside  into  the  Saratoga  as  she  passed  that  ship  to  take 
her  position  opposite  the  Eagle.  Captain  Downie  brought  his  vessel 
into  action  in  the  most  gallant  manner,  and  did  not  fire  a gun  until 
he  was  perfectly  secured,  although  his  vessel  suffered  severely  from 
the  fire  of  the  Americans.  As  soon,  however,  as  the  Confiance  had 
been  brought  into  position  she  discharged  all  her  larboard  guns 
at  nearly  the  same  instant.  The  effect  of  this  broadside,  thrown 
from  long  twenty-four  pounders,  double  shotted  in  smooth  water, 
was  terrible.  1 he  Saratoga  trembled  to  her  very  keel;  about  forty 
of  her  crew  were  disabled,  including  her  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  Gamble, 
who  was  killed  while  sighting  the  bow  gun. 

FIRST  TO  SURRENDER 

Soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  engagement  the  Chub, 
while  maneuvering  near  the  head  of  the  American  line,  received 
a broadside  from  the  Eagle  which  so  crippled  her  that  she  drifted 
down  between  the  opposing  vessels  and  struck.  She  was  taken 
possession  of  by  Mr.  Charles  Platt,  one  of  the  Saratoga’s  midship- 
men, and  was  towed  in  shore  and  anchored. 

The  Chub  had  suffered  severely,  nearly  half  of  her  men  having 
been  killed  or  wounded.  About  an  hour  later  the  Finch  was  driven 
from  her  position  by  the  Ticonderoga,  and,  being  badly  injured, 
drifted  upon  the  shoal  near  Crab  Island,  where  she  grounded.  After 
being  fired  into  from  the  small  battery  on  the  island,  she  struck 
and  was  taken  possession  of  by  the  invalids  who  manned  the  battery. 

After  the  loss  of  the  Finch,  the  British  gunboats  made  several 
efforts  to  close  and  succeeded  in  compelling  the  sloop  Preble  to  cut 
her  cables  and  to  anchor  inshore  of  the  line  where  she  was  of  no 
more  service  during  the  engagement.  The  gun-boats,  emboldened 
by  this  success,  now  directed  their  efforts  towards  the  Ticonderoga, 
against  which  they  made  several  very  gallant  assaults,  bringing 
the  boats,  upon  two  or  three  occasions,  within  a few  feet  of  the 
schooner’s  side.  They  were,  however,  as  often  beaten  back,  and 
the  schooner  during  the  remainder  of  the  day  completely  covered 
that  extremity  of  the  line. 

EAGLE  LOST  SPRINGS 

While  these  changes  were  taking  place  at  the  lower  end  of  the 
line,  a change  was  also  made  at  the  other  extremity.  The  Eagle, 
having  lost  her  springs  and  finding  herself  exposed  to  the  fire  of 
both  the  Linnet  and  Confiance,  dropped  down  and  anchored  between 
the  Saratoga  and  Ticonderoga  and  a little  inshore  of  both.  From 
this  position  she  opened  afresh  on  the  Confiance  and  the  British 
gunboats  with  her  larboard  guns.  This  change  relieved  the  brig, 
but  left  the  Saratoga  exposed  to  the  whole  fire  of  the  Linnet,  which 
sprung  her  broadsides  in  such  a manner  as  to  rake  the  ship  on  her 
bows. 

The  fire  from  the  Saratoga  and  Confiance  now  began  materially 
to  lessen  as  gun  after  gun  on  both  vessels  became  disabled,  until 


25 


MAP  SHOWING  PLATTSBURGH  AND  VICINITY.  THE  LOWER 
FLAG  MARKS  THE  SPOT  WHERE  IN  1776  WAS  FOUGHT  THE 
FIRST  BATTLE  BETWEEN  FLEETS  OF  ENGLISH-SPEAKING 
NATIONS.  THE  UPPER  FLAG  MARKS  THE  SPOT  WHERE  IN  1814 
MACDONOUGH  WON  THE  LAST  BATTLE  FOUGHT  BETWEEN 
FLEETS  OF  ENGLISH-SPEAKING  NATIONS. 


26 


at  last  the  Saratoga  had  not  a single  available  gun,  and  the  Con- 
fiance  was  but  little  better  off.  It  therefore  became  necessary  that 
both  vessels  should  wind,  to  continue  the  action  with  any  success. 
This  the  Saratoga  did  after  considerable  delay,  but  the  Confiance 
was  less  fortunate  as  the  only  effect  of  her  effort  was  to  force  the 
vessel  ahead.  As  soon  as  the  Saratoga  came  around  she  poured 
a fresh  broadside  from  her  larboard  guns  into  the  Confiance,  which 
stood  the  fire  for  a few  minutes  and  then  struck.  The  ship  then 
brought  her  guns  to  bear  on  the  Linnet,  which  surrendered  about 
fifteen  minutes  afterwards.  At  this  time  the  British  gunboats  lay 
half  a mile  in  the  rear,  where  they  had  been  driven  by  the  sharp 
fire  of  the  Ticonderoga  and  Eagle.  These  boats  lowered  their 
colors  as  soon  as  they  found  the  larger  vessels  had  submitted,  but 
not  being  pursued,  for  the  American  gunboats  were  sent  to  aid 
the  Confiance  and  the  Linnet  which  were  reported  to  be  in  a sinking 
condition,  they  escaped,  together  with  the  store  sloop  which  lay 
near  the  point  of  Cumberland  Head  during  the  battle. 

The  engagement  co?itinued  for  two  hours  and  a half  and  was  the 
most  severely  fought  naval  battle  of  the  war.  The  Saratoga  had  twenty- 
eight  men  killed  and  twenty-nine  wounded;  the  Eagle,  thirteen 
killed  and  twenty  wounded;  the  Ticonderoga  six  killed  and  six 
wounded,  and  the  Preble,  two  killed.  The  loss  on  the  gunboats 
was  three  killed  and  three  wounded.  Total  killed  and  wounded, 
one  hundred  and  ten,  being  equal  to  one  in  every  eight  men  in  the  fleet. 
Besides,  the  Saratoga  had  been  hulled  fifty-five  times  and  was 
twice  on  fire;  the  Eagle  was  hulled  thirty-nine  times.  The  carnage 
and  destruction  had  been  as  great  on  the  other  side.  The  Confiance 
had  forty-one  men  killed  and  eighty-three  wounded;  the  Linnet 
reported  her  casualties  at  ten  killed.  Fourteen  were  wounded,  but 
the  killed  and  wounded  probably  exceeded  fifty;  the  Chub  was 
reported  as  having  six  killed  and  ten  wounded,  and  the  Finch  had 
two  wounded.  No  account  is  given  of  the  loss  on  the  gunboats, 
but,  from  their  close  and  severe  contests  with  the  Ticonderoga,  it 
must  have  been  large.  The  total  of  killed  and  wounded  on  the 
British  side  was  equal  to  at  least  one-fifth  of  the  whole  number  of 
men  in  their  fleet.  The  Confiance  had  been  hulled  one  hundred 
and  five  times.  So  severe  had  been  the  contest  that  at  the  close 
of  the  action  there  was  not  a mast  in  either  fleet  fit  for  use. 

CAPTAIN  DOWNIE  KILLED 

Among  those  killed  on  the  side  of  the  British  were  Captain  Downie 
who  fell  soon  after  the  action  commenced,  Captain  Alexander  Ander- 
son, one  of  the  marines,  Midshipman  William  Gunn  of  the  Confiance, 
and  Lieutenant  William  Paul  and  Boatswain  Charles  Jackson  of 
the  Linnet.  Among  the  wounded  were  Midshipman  Lee  of  the 
Confiance,  Midshipman  John  Sinclair  of  the  Linnet,  and  Lieutenant 
James  McGhee  of  the  Chub.  The  American  officers  killed  were 
Peter  Gamble,  first  lieutenant  of  the  Saratoga,  John  Stansbury, 
first  lieutenant  of  the  Ticonderoga,  Midshipman  James  M.  Baldwin, 
and  Sailing  Master  Rogers  Carter.  Referring  to  the  death  of  three 
of  these  officers,  Mr.  Cooper,  in  his  History  of  the  Navy,^says: 


View  in  Riverside  Cemetery,  Plattsburgh  New  York, — showing  graves  of  British  and  American  officers  killed  in  Battle  of  Plattsburgh 
and  buried  side  by  side.  Grave  of  Commodore  George  Downie,  commander  British  fleet,  enclosed  by  iron  railing.  Plattsburgh 
people  have  honored  and  kept  green  their  graves  annually  including  them  within  the  tributes  of  Decoration  Day 


28 


MAP  SHOWING  THE  SECTION  OF  COUNTRY 
THROUGH  WHICH  THE  BRITISH  ARMY  PLANNED 
TO  MARCH  FROM  MONTREAL  TO  NEW  YORK  IN 
THEIR  INVASION  OF  THIS  COUNTRY  SEPTEMBER 
1814. 


29 


T(- 


“ Lieutenant  Gamble  was  on  his  knees,  sighting  the  bow-gun,  when 
a shot  entered  the  port,  split  the  quoin,  drove  a portion  of  it  against 
his  breast  and  laid  him  dead  on  the  quarter-deck  without  breaking 
his  skin.  Fifteen  minutes  later  one  of  the  American  shots  struck 
the  muzzle  of  a twenty-four  on  the  Confiance,  dismounted  it,  sending 
it  bodily  inboard  against  the  groin  of  Captain  Downie,  killing  him 
also  without  breaking  the  skin;  Lieutenant  Stansbury  suddenly  dis- 
appeared from  the  bulwarks  forward  while  superintending  some 
duty  with  the  springs  of  the  Ticonderoga.  Two  days  after  the 
action  his  body  rose  to  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  it  was  found 
that  it  had  been  cut  in  two  by  a round  shot.” 

NONE  ESCAPED  INJURY 

It  is  said  that  scarcely  an  individual  escaped , on  board  of  either  the 
Confiance  or  Saratoga,  without  some  injury.  Macdonough  was  twice 
knocked  down;  once  by  the  spanker-boom,  which  was  cut  in  two  by 
a shot  and  fell  upon  his  back  as  he  was  bending  his  body  to  sight 
a gun;  and  again  by  the  head  ol  a gunner,  which  was  driven  against 
him  and  knocked  him  into  the  scuppers.  Mr.  Brum,  the  sailing 
master  of  the  Saratoga,  had  his  clothes  torn  off  by  a splinter, 
while  winding  the  ship.  Mr.  Vallette,  acting  lieutenant,  had  a shot- 
box,  on  which  he  was  standing,  knocked  from  under  his  feet,  and 
he,  too,  was  once  knocked  down  by  the  head  of  a seaman.  Very  few 
escaped  without  some  accident,  and  it  appears  to  have  been  agreed 
on  both  sides  to  call  no  man  wounded  who  could  keep  out  of  the  hos- 
pital. Midshipman  Lee  of  the  Confiance,  who  was  wounded  in  the 
action,  thus  described  the  condition  of  that  vessel:  “The  havoc  on 
both  sides  is  dreadful.  I don’t  think  there  are  more  than  five  of 
our  men  out  of  three  hundred  but  what  are  killed  or  wounded. 
Never  was  a shower  of  hail  so  thick  as  the  shot  whistling  about  our 
ears.  Were  you  to  see  my  jacket,  waist-coat  and  trousers,  you 
would  be  astonished  how  I escaped  as  I did,  for  they  are  literally 
torn  all  to  rags  with  shot  and  splinters;  the  upper  part  of  my  hat 
was  also  shot  away.  There  is  one  of  our  marines  zuho  was  in  the 
Trafalgar  action  with  Lord  Nelson  who  says  it  was  a mere  flea-bite  in 
comparison  with  this.” 


THE  LAND  FORCES 

As  soon  as  the  British  fleet  were  observed  approaching  Cumber- 
land Head,  on  the  morning  of  the  nth.  Sir  George  Prevost  ordered 
General  Power’s  brigade,  and  a part  of  General  Robinson’s  brigade, 
consisting  of  four  companies  of  light  infantry,  and  the  3d  battalions 
of  the  27th  and  76th,  to  force  the  fords  of  the  Saranac,  and  to  assault 
the  American  works.  The  advance  was  made  and  the  batteries 
were  opened  the  moment  the  action  on  the  lake  commenced. 

The  British  attempted  to  cross  the  river  at  three  points;  one  at 
the  village  bridge,  where  they  were  repulsed  by  the  artillery  and 
guards  under  Captains  Brooks,  Richards  and  Smith;  one  at  the  upper 
bridge,  where  they  were  foiled  by  the  pickets  and  riflemen  under 


Captain  Grosvenor  and  Lieutenants  Hamilton  and  Smith,  supported 
by  a detachment  of  militia;  and  the  third  at  the  ford  near/*  Pike’s 
cantonment,”  where  they  were  resisted  by  the  New  York  Militia 
under  Major-General  Mooers  and  Brigadier-General  Wright.  At 
this  latter  point,  several  companies  succeeded  in  crossing,  driving  the 
militia  before  them  towards  Salmon  river.  The  British  advanced, 
firing  by  platoons,  but  with  such  carelessness  of  aim  as  to  do  but  little 
injury.  At  Salmon  river,  the  militia  were  joined  by  a large  detach- 
ment of  the  Vermont  Volunteers,  and  were  soon  afterwards  rein- 
forced by  Lieutenant  Sumpter  with  a party  of  artillery  and  a field- 
piece.  Here  they  rallied  and  were  drawn  up  to  meet  the  attack  o 
the  British  troops,  who  were  rapidly  approaching.  Just  at  this 
moment  an  officer  rode  up  to  the  ranks,  proclaiming  the  welcome 
intelligence  that  the  British  fleet  had  surrendered.  With  three 
hearty  cheers  the  militia  immediately  pressed  forward  against  the 
enemy,  who,  having  been  at  the  same  moment  recalled,  were  now 
rapidly  retiring  toward  the  ford.  In  their  retreat,  a company  of 
the  76th  lost  their  way  among  the  thick  pines,  where  they  were 
surrounded  and  attacked  by  several  companies  of  militia  and  Ver- 
mont Volunteers.  Three  lieutenants  and  twenty-seven  men  were 
made  prisoners  and  Captain  Purchase  and  the  rest  of  the  company 
killed.  The  rest  of  the  British  detachment  regained  the  North 
bank  of  the  Saranac  without  much  loss.  i 

Although  no  further  attempt  was  made  to  cross  the  river,  the 
British  batteries  continued  their  fire  upon  the  Americans  works  until 
sundown.  This  fire  was  returned  by  the  guns  of  Fort  Brown,  which 
were  managed  during  the  day  with  great  skill  by  Captain  Alexander 
Brooks  and  the  corps  of  veteran  artillery  under  his  command. 

Sir  George  Prevost  had  now  under  his  command  over  thirteen 
thousand  troops,  more  than  half  of  whom  had  served  with  dis- 
tinction under  Wellington,  while  the  American  force  did  not  exceed 
over  fifteen  hundred  regulars  fit  for  duty,  two  thousand  five  hundred 
Vermont  Volunteers  under  Major  General  Strong,  six  hundred  of 
whom  had  just  arrived,  and  General  Wright’s  brigade  of  Clinton 
and  Essex  militia,  seven  hundred  strong,  under  command  of  Major- 
General  Mooers.  With  his  superior  force,  Prevost  could  have  forced 
the  passage  of  the  Saranac  and  have  crushed  Macomb  by  the  mere 
weight  of  numbers.  But  the  victory  would  have  been  attended 
with  a great  sacrifice  of  life,  and  would  have  led  to  no  permanent 
advantage  to  the  British.  Macdonough  was  in  command  of  the 
lake;  reinforcements  of  regulars  were  hastening  to  the  support  of 
Macomb;  the  militia  were  rising  en  masse  in  every  quarter  and 
within  two  weeks  Prevost  would  have  been  surrounded,  his  supplies 
from  Canada  cut  off,  and  an  only  alternative  left  to  force  his  way 
back  with  the  loss  of  half  his  army  or  to  have  surrendered.  In 
a dispatch  to  Earl  Bathurst,  after  referring  to  the  loss  of  the  fleet, 
he  says:  “ This  unlooked  for  event  depriving  me  of  the  co-operation 
of  the  fleet,  without  which  the  further  prosecution  of  the  service 
was  become  impracticable,  I did  not  hesitate  to  arrest  the  course 
of  the  troops  advancing  to  the  attack,  because  the  most  complete 
success  would  have  been  unavailing;  and  the  possession  of  the  enemy’s 


3i 


works  offered  no  advantage  to  compensate  for  the  loss  we  must 
have  sustained  in  acquiring  possession  of  them.” 

COMPLIMENT  TO  BRAVERY 

This  was  a just  and  merited  compliment  to  the  skill  and  bravery 
of  the  American  regulars  and  militia.  The  former  were  few  in  num- 
ber, but  resolute  and  unflinching.  Among  the  latter  the  greatest 
enthusiam  now  prevailed.  They  had  been  accustomed  to  the  “ smell 
of  powder,”  and,  animated  by  the  recollection  of  Macdonough’s 
victory,  were  ready  to  oppose  any  force  that  might  attempt  the 
passage  of  the  Saranac.  It  is  due  to  the  patriotism  of  the  citizens 
of  Vermont  to  mention  the  fact  that  as  soon  as  Governor  Chitten- 
den received  information  from  General  Macomb  of  the  invasion  by 
the  enemy,  he  issued  a spirited  address  calling  on  the  Vermont 
militia  to  rally  to  the  aid  of  their  countrymen  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  lake.  This  address  was  most  nobly  responded  to,  for  when 
the  requisition  of  the  President  for  a reinforcement  of  two  thousand 
militia  to  aid  General  Macomb  reached  the  Governor,  he  replied 
that  the  order  had  not  only  been  anticipated  but  far  exceeded 
by  the  voluntary  enrollment  of  his  fellow  citizens.  The  same 
enthusiam  pervaded  the  militia  on  the  New  York  side.  When 
Major-General  Mooers’  orders  were  received  for  the  militia  of  Warren 
and  Washington  counties  to  assemble,  en  masse  and  march  to  the 
frontier,  there  appeared , under  arms,  two  hundred  and  fifty  men  more 
than  had  ever  mustered  at  an  inspection  or  review. 

PREVOST’S  RETREAT 

Acting  upon  the  considerations  stated  in  his  dispatch  to  Earl 
Bathurst,  Sir  George  Prevost  prepared  for  an  instant  and  hasty 
retreat.  As  soon  as  the  sun  went  down  he  dismantled  his  batteries, 
and  at  9 o’clock  at  night  sent  off  his  heavy  baggage  and  artillery, 
which  were  quickly  followed  by  the  main  army;  the  rear  guard 
consisting  of  a light  brigade,  started  a little  before  daybreak,  leaving 
behind  them  vast  quantities  of  provisions,  tents,  camp  equipage, 
ammunition,  etc.  The  sick  and  wounded  were  also  left  behind, 
consigned  to  the  generosity  and  humane  care  of  General  Macomb. 
So  silent  and  rapid  was  the  retreat  that  the  main  army  had  passed 
through  Beekmantown  before  its  absence  was  known  in  the  American 
camp.  The  light  troops,  volunteers,  and  militia  were  immediately 
sent  in  pursuit.  They  followed  the  retiring  column  as  far  as  Chazy, 
and  took  a few  prisoners.  The  roads  were  muddy  and  very  heavy 
at  the  time,  which  not  only  prevented  further  pursuit,  but  delayed 
Prevost’s  retreat.  The  last  of  the  British  army  did  not  leave  Cham- 
plain until  the  24th. 

General  Macomb,  in  his  returns,  states  the  number  of  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing  of  the  regular  force  under  his  command, 
during  the  skirmishes  and  bombardment,  at  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
three.  The  only  commissioned  officer  killed  was  Lieutenant  George 
W.  Runk  of  the  6th  Regiment,  who  was  severely  wounded  on  the 


32 


seventh  and  died  the  next  day.  The  loss  among  the  volunteers 
and  militia  was  small.  The  loss  of  the  British  has  never  been 
correctly  ascertained.  Their  accounts  hx  the  casualties  of  the 
expedition  at  under  two  hundred  killed  and  wounded  and  four 
hundred  lost  by  desertion.  Seventy-five  British  soldiers  were 
captured. 


VOLUNTEERS  RETURN  HOME 

On  the  1 2th  the  Vermont  Volunteers  returned  home,  and  on  the 
13th  the  New  York  Militia  were  disbanded  by  General  Macomb, 
and  orders  issued  countermanding  the  march  of  thousands  who 
were  flocking  the  frontier. 

On  the  morning  of  the  14th  of  September,  the  remains  of  the 
lamented  Gamble,  Stansbury,  Baldwin,  Carter,  and  Barron,  were 
placed  in  separate  boats,  which,  manned  by  crews  from  their  respec- 
tive vessels,  proceeded  to  the  Confiance,  where  they  were  joined 
by  the  British  officers  with  the  bodies  of  Downie,  Anderson,  Paul, 
Gunn,  and  Jackson.  At  the  shore  of  the  lake  the  procession  was 
joined  by  a large  concourse  of  the  military  and  citizens  of  Plattsburgh, 
who  accompanied  the  bodies  to  the  village  burial-ground.  Near 
the  center  of  the  graveyard,  beneath  the  shade  of  two  pines,  now 
rest  the  ashes  of  those  gallant  officers.  The  sailors  and  marines 
who  fell  in  the  engagement  were  buried  on  Crab  Island,  side  by 
side,  in  one  common  grave. 

With  the  battle  of  Plattsburgh  closed  all  active  operations  upon  the 
Champlain  frontier. 


McMASTER’S  ACCOUNT 

In  volume  IV,  pages  66  to  68,  of  “ A History  of  the  People  of 
the  United  States  from  the  Revolution  to  the  Civil  War,”  John 
Bach  McMaster  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  writes  of  the 
Battle  of  Plattsburgh  as  “ the  greatest  naval  battle  of  the  war,” 
and  stamps  Macdonough  as  “ the  ablest  sea-captain  our  country 
has  produced.”  McMaster  says: 

Downie’s  fleet  numbered  twelve  gun-boats  and  four  large  ships  — 
the  Chubb,  the  Linnet,  the  Confiance,  and  Finch  — one  of  which, 
the  Confiance,  he  considered  a match  for  the  entire  American  flotilla. 
She  was  indeed  a splendid  vessel,  for  she  was  one  hundred  and  forty- 
six  feet  long,  was  armed  with  thrity-seven  guns,  and  carried  a crew 
of  three  hundred  officers  and  men.  After  pausing  for  a time  at  the 
entrance  to  the  bay  in  order  that  his  gun-boats  might  come  up 
with  him,  Downie,  with  his  four  ships  abreast  and  the  twelve  galleys 
to  leeward,  bore  down  on  the  American  line.  The  Chubb  and  the 
Linnet  singled  out  the  Eagle.  The  Confiance  dropped  anchor  before 
the  Saratoga;  the  Finch  with  the  galleys  engaged  the  Ticonderoga 
and  the  Preble,  and  sought  to  turn  the  end  of  the  American  line. 
The  battle  which  followed  was  fought  long  and  well.  At  the  head 
of  the  line  the  Chubh  was  quickly  disabled  by  the  Eagle,  and,  drift- 
ing past  the  Saratoga,  received  a shot  that  forced  her  to  strike. 


33 


She  was  then  boarded  by  a prize  crew  and  towed  inshore  and  anchored 
oft  the  mouth  of  the  Saranac  river.  But  the  Eagle  was  soon  forced 
from  her  position,  and,  running  down  the  line,  she  anchored  between 
the  Saratoga  and  Ticonderoga.  The  Ticonderoga  meanwhile  had 
been  hotlv  engaged  with  the  Finch,  which,  shattered  and  helpless, 
was,  in  her  turn,  driven  from  her  anchorage,  and,  floating  off  toward 
Crab  Island,  grounded  and  was  taken  by  the  invalids  from  the 
hospital.  The  galleys  now  redoubled  the  fury  of  their  attack  on 
the  Preble,  and  soon  compelled  her  to  cut  her  cables  and  take  refuge 
inshore  near  the  captured  Chubb.  On  the  Saratoga  the  day  was 
going  badly  for  Macdonough.  1 he  first  broadside  from  the  double- 
shotted  guns  of  the  Confiance,  delivered  at  short  range,  almost  blew 
the  Saratoga  out  of  the  water.  Such  was  the  force  of  the  shot  that 
more  than  half  the  crew  were  thrown  upon  the  deck  and  forty  of 
them  killed  outright  or  wounded.  Deprived  of  so  many  men,  Mac- 
donough began  to  fight  like  a sailor,  and  was  busy  sighting  a gun 
when  a round  shot  cut  the  spanker  boom  in  two  and  threw  a piece 
of  it  on  his  head,  striking  him  senseless  to  the  deck.  Springing  up, 
he  went  back  to  the  gun,  but  a second  shot,  tearing  oft  the  head  of 
the  captain  of  the  gun,  flung  it  in  his  face  with  such  force  that  he 
was  hurled  to  the  other  side  of  the  vessel.  The  Linnet,  having  driven 
off  the  Eagle,  began  to  rake  the  bow  of  the  Saratoga.  But  though 
his  men  fell  thick  around  him,  though  his  guns  were  one  by  one 
disabled,  Macdonough  fought  manfully  on  till  the  navel-bolt  of 
his  last  gun  giving  way,  the  piece  leaped  from  its  carriage  and, 
plunging  down  the  main  hatch,  left  him  without  one  carronade  on 
his  engaged  side. 

Many  a captain  would  have  thought  the  time  had  now  come  to 
strike,  but  the  emergency  was  one  Macdonough  had  foreseen  and 
had  provided  for,  and,  turning  his  vessel  slowly  round,  while  the 
Linnet  raked  her,  he  brought  his  usused  port  battery  to  bear  on 
the  Confiance  and  forced  her  to  surrender.  Then,  turning  still 
farther  round,  Macdonough  opened  on  the  Linnet,  and  in  fifteen 
minutes  her  commander  hauled  down  her  colors.  A boarding  officer 
was  now  sent  to  take  possession  of  the  Confiance,  which,  with  every 
mast  in  splinters,  with  Downie  and  half  the  crew  dead  and  wounded, 
and  with  one  hundred  and  five  shot-holes  in  her  hull,  lay  a wreck 
on  the  water.  As  the  lieutenant  passed  along  her  deck  he  ran  foul 
of  the  lock-string  of  a gun,  which  immediately  went  off.  It  is  believed 
that  the  report  was  understood  by  the  British  galleys  to  be  a signal, 
for  they  at  once  began  to  move  away  slowly  by  the  aid  of  the  few 
sweeps  left  them.  To  follow  was  not  possible,  and  they  escaped 
with  every  ensign  down. 

The  fight  in  Plattsburgh  Bay  was  undoubtedly  the  greatest  naval 
battle  of  the  war,  and' the  victory  stamped  Macdonough  as  the  ablest 
sea-captain  our  country  produced  down  to  the  Rebellion.” 


CHAPTER  II 


/ 


LOSSING’S  COMMENTS 

Benson  J.  Lossing’s  “ Pictorial  Field  Book  of  the  War  of  1812,” 
contains  a wealth  of  interesting  “ illustrations  by  pen  and  pencil, 
of  the  history,  biography,  scenery,  relics  and  traditions  of  the  last 
war  for  American  independence.”  There  are  several  hundred  engrav- 
ings on  wood,  by  Lossing  and  Barritt,  chiefly  from  original  sketches 
by  Lossing. 

Lossing  says: 

“ The  retirement  of  Napoleon  to  Elba  did  release  from  Con- 
tinental service  a large  body  of  English  troops,  and  several  thousands 
of  them  were  immediately  dispatched  to  Canada  to  re-enforce  the 
little  army  there.  They  were  sent  from  the  Garonne,  in  Spain,  and 
many  of  them  were  Wellington’s  veterans,  hardy  and  skillful.  They 
arrived  at  Quebec  late  in  July  and  in  August,  and  were  rapidly 
-V  pushed  up  to  Montreal.  In  the  meantime,  the  forces  under  Prevost, 
the  Governor  of  Canada  and  general-in-chief,  had  been  very  busy 
in  preparations  for  an  invasion  of  New  York,  and  the  little  flotilla 
in  the  Richelieu,  or  Sorel  river,  had  been  greatly  augmented  in 
numbers  and  strength  during  the  winter  and  spring.” 


BURGOYNE’S  PLAN  FOLLOWED 

“ Both  parties  now  prepared  for  a struggle  for  supremacy  on  Lake 
Champlain.  The  British,  as  we  have  observed,  had  adopted  in  a 
degree  the  plan  of  Burgoyne  for  separating  New  England  from  the 
rest  of  the  Union,  while  the  Americans  were  as  determined  to  resist 
the  meditated  invasion  at  the  very  threshold,  and  defend  the  lake 
region  and  the  valley  of  the  upper  Hudson  at  the  gates  of  Canada.” 

************* 

“ During  the  months  of  July  and  August  not  less  than  fifteen 
thousand  troops,  chiefly  veterans  from  Wellington’s  armies,  as  we 
have  observed,  arrived  at  Montreal.  Only  one  brigade  was  sent 
westward,  and  the  remainder  were  kept  in  reserve  for  the  contem- 
plated invasion  of  New  York,  in  such  overwhelming  force  as  to 
overbear  all  opposition.  These  newly-arrived  troops  were  encamped 
in  the  level  country  between  Laprairie  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  the 
Chambly  on  the  Sorel. 


34 


35 


“ Very  soon  after  the  advance  of  the  Americans  to  Chazy  and 
Champlain,  Sir  George  Prevost  arrived  at  the  Isle  aux  Noix,  where 
he  had  concentrated  a considerable  body  of  veterans,  and  took  chief 
command  in  person;  and  strong  detachments  of  seamen  were  sent 
from  Quebec,  by  order  of  Sir  James  L.  Yeo,  to  strengthen  the  naval 
power  at  the  same  place. 

A SERIOUS  BLUNDER 

“It  was  evident  that  a speedy  invasion  of  Northern  New  York  was 
in  contemplation;  and  yet,  with  full  information  on  the  subject,  the 
American  government,  as  if  fearful  of  a conquest  of  Canada  when- 
ever a spirited  general  was  in  command  near  assailable  points,  ordered 
Izard  at  that  critical  moment,  when  danger  was  never  more  apparent, 
to  march  a larger  portion  of  his  force  westward  to  co-operate  with 
the  army  of  Niagara.  It  was  an  open  invitation  to  invasion;  and 
the  army  and  people,  expecting  a great  battle  soon  at  the  foot  of 
Lake  Champlain,  and  hoping  for  a decisive  victory,  were  astonished 
by  the  order.  The  disappointed  Izard  could  scarcely  restrain  his 
indignation.  On  the  nth  of  August  he  wrote:  “I  will  make  the 
movement  you  direct,  if  possible;  but  I shall  do  it  with  the  appre- 
hension of  risking  the  force  under  my  command,  and  with  the  cer- 
tainty that  everything  in  this  vicinity  but  the  lately  erected  works 
at  Plattsburgh  and  Cumberland  Head  will,  in  less  than  three  days 
after  my  departure,  be  in  the  possession  of  the  enemy.  He  is  in 
force  superior  to  mine  in  my  front;  he  daily  threatens  an  attack  on 
my  position  at  Champlain;  we  are  all  in  hourly  expectation  of  a 
serious  conflict.  * * * Let  me  not  be  supposed  to  hesitate  about 

executing  any  project  which  the  government  I have  the  honor  to 
serve  think  proper  to  direct.  My  little  army  will  do  its  duty.” 

************* 

THE  BRITISH  ADVANCE 

“When  the  British  advanced  to  Chazy,  Macomb  ordered  Captain 
Sproull  to  take  a position  near  Dead  Creek  Bridge,  on  the  Lake  road, 
with  two  hundred  of  the  Thirteenth  regiment  and  two  field  pieces, 
while  Lieutenant-Colonel  Appling,  the  hero  of  Sandy  Creek,  was 
sent  farther  in  advance,  with  a little  more  than  a hundred  riflemen, 
and  a troop  of  New  York  cavalry  under  Captain  Gilead  Sperry, 
Lieutenant  Hiram  SafFord  and  Cornet  Matthew  M.  Standish. 
Their  business  was  to  watch  and  annoy  the  enemy,  and  obstruct 
his  march  by  felling  trees  in  the  road.  It  was  their  appearance  that 
caused  his  halt  at  Sampson’s.  General  Mooers  had  called  for  the 
entire  militia  force  of  his  district  to  repel  the  invasion,  and  Macomb 
made  an  earnest  appeal  for  troops  to  Governor  Chittenden,  of 
Vermont. 

“ On  the  evening  of  the  4th,  Mooers  had  seven  hundred  men 
under  his  command,  and  with  them,  by  order  of  Macomb,  he  advanced 
a few  miles  northward  on  the  Beekmantown  road,  on  an  errand 


36 


similar  to  that  of  Sproull  and  Appling.  He  was  instructed  to  watch 
the  enemy,  skirmish  with  his  vanguard,  break  up  the  bridges,  obstruct 
the  roads  with  felled  trees.  He  went  forward  on  the  morning  of 
the  5th,  and  bivouacked  that  night  near  the  stone  church  in  Beek- 
mantown. 

“On  the  morning  of  the  6th  the  British  army,  full  fourteen  thousand 
strong,  mostly  veteran  troops,  marched  upon  Plattsburgh  in  two 
columns  from  their  encampment  near  Sampson’s,  the  right  crossing 
over  to  the  Beekmantown  road,  and  the  left  following  the  lake 
shore  that  led  to  Dead  Creek  Bridge.  General  Edward  Baynes 
was  the  adjutant-general,  and  Sir  Sidney  Beckwith,  who  was  con- 
spicuous at  Hampton  and  in  Hampton  Roads  the  previous  year, 
was  quartermaster-general.  I he  right  column  was  composed  of 
General  Powers’s  brigade,  supported  by  four  companies  of  light 
infantry  and  a half  brigade  under  Major  General  Robinson.  The 
left  was  composed  of  General  Brisbane’s  brigade,  and  was  led  bv 
him  in  person.  The  whole  were  under  the  immediate  command  of 
Major-General  DeRottenburg. 

“ Macomb  was  informed  of  this  movement  being  in  contempla- 
tion on  the  evening  of  the  5th,  and  prepared  to  meet  it.  The  gallant 
Major  John  E.  Wool,  ever  ready  for  a daring  enterprise,  volunteered 
to  lead  some  regulars  to  support  the  militia  and  oppose  the  advance 
of  the  foe.  At  about  the  time  in  the  early  morning  of  the  6th  when 
the  British  broke  camp  at  Sampson’s,  Wool  moved  from  Plattsburgh 
with  two  hundred  and  fifty  regular  infantry  and  thirty  volunteers, 
with  orders  to  set  the  militia  an  example  of  firmness.  Ihis  was 
done.  He  reached  Beekmantown  before  the  enemy  appeared,  and 
took  possession  near  the  residence  of  Ira  Howe.  There  the  first 
collision  occurred.  The  enemy  came  marching  on  rapidly,  antic- 
ipating no  resistance,  when  they  were  suddenly  checked  by  a heavy 
volley  of  musketry  from  Wool’s  little  corps.  The  militia  broke  and 
fled  toward  Plattsburgh,  but  the  regulars  stood  firm.  The  enemy 
was  in  overwhelming  numbers,  but  Wool  moved  slowly  back  toward 
Culver’s  Hill,  disputing  the  way  inch  by  inch  in  desperate  skirmish- 
ing. On  that  hill,  a short  distance  below  Beekmantown,  he  made 
a stand,  and  as  the  British  advance  ascended  the  slope,  filling  the 
entire  road,  he  made  another  gallant  attack  upon  them.  Some  of 
the  militia  had  been  rallied,  and  were  in  position  behind  the  stone 
wall  that  bounded  the  road.  The  enemy’s  advance  was  driven  back 
upon  the  main  body,  and  their  leader,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Willington 
of  the  Third  Regiment  of  Royal  Buff's,  and  Ensign  Chapman  of  the 
same  regiment  were  killed.  Captain  Westropp,  of  the  Fifty-eighth, 
was  severely  wounded.  Corporal  Patridge,  of  Essex  militia,  and 
several  other  Americans,  were  killed.  The  fight  was  severe,  but  very 
short.  The  heavy  column  of  the  enemy  came  pressing  steadily  onward 
with  irresistible  force,  filling  the  entire  roadway.  At  the  same  time 
Wool  discovered  a formidable  movement  to  turn  his  flank  and  gain 
his  rear,  when  he  again  fell  back  in  order  to  Halsey’s  Corners,  within 
a mile  and  a half  of  Plattsburgh  bridge.  There  he  was  joined  at 
about  eight  o’clock  in  the  morning  by  Captain  Leonard  with  two 
pieces  of  artillery.  These  were  immediately  placed  in  battery  at 


SKETCH 
or  TKt 

BATTLE  OF  PLATTSBURGH 


y\t<ompanying 


37 


an  angle  in  the  road.  They  were  masked  by  Wool’s  infantry  and 
a small  body  of  militia,  and  as  the  enemy  came  steadily  on  in  heavy 
mass,  Leonard  opened  upon  them,  and  his  balls  cut  fearful  lanes 
through  their  ranks. 

“ Three  times  that  battery  hurled  its  deadly  missiles  through  the 
lines  of  the  foe,  yet  it  did  not  check  them.  The  British  bugles  sounded 
and  the  men,  throwing  away  their  knapsacks,  rushed  forward  at 
double  quick  to  charge  with  the  bayonet.  Leonard  was  compelled 
to  fly  toward  the  village.  He  carried  his  guns  with  him,  turning 
them  occasionally  upon  the  pursuing  foe,  and,  crossing  the  Saranac 
at  the  lower  bridge,  he  planted  them  in  battery  on  a gentle  eminence 
in  the  road,  near  the  stone  mill,  to  cover  the  crossing  of  the  rest 
of  the  Americans  if  they  should  find  it  necessary  to  retreat.  In  the 
affair  at  Halsey’s  Corners  several  of  the  British  were  killed.  Among 
them  was  Lieutenant  Kingsbury,  of  the  Third  Royal  Buffs,  who  was 
mortally  wounded,  and  taken  into  the  farm  house  of  the  now  (1867) 
venerable  Isaac  C.  Platt,  Esq.,  near  by,  where  he  soon  afterward 
died. 

“ The  more  rapid  march  of  the  British  right  column  imperiled 
the  detachments  of  Appling  and  Sproul,  who  were  awaiting  the 
approach  of  the  left.  Macomb  perceived  this,  and  ordered  them  to 
fall  back  toward  Plattsburgh,  and  attack  the  enemy’s  flank.  They 
did  so,  and  their  riflemen  galled  the  foe  severely.  They  reached  the 
lower  bridge  just  in  time  to  avoid  being  cut  oft  by  the  British  right, 
and  to  cross  it  with  Wool’s  retiring  troops.  When  all  were  safely 
over,  the  bridge  was  torn  up  in  the  face  of  a heavy  fire  from  the 
head  of  the  enemy’s  right,  which  had  reached  the  little  village.  The 
militia  in  the  meantime  had  fled  across  the  upper  bridge,  and 
destroyed  that  in  the  same  way.  The  British  left  column  soon  after- 
ward appeared.  It  crossed  the  Dead  Creek  bridge,  and,  while 
making  its  way  along  the  beach  of  Plattsburgh  Bay  to  unite  with 
the  right,  it  was  severely  harassed  by  an  enfilading  fire  from  some  of 
Macdonough’s  galleys  which  had  been  sent  to  the  head  of  the  bay 
for  the  purpose.  A heavy  blow  came  on,  and  Macdonough  sent 
Midshipman  Silas  Duncan  in  a gig  to  order  the  galleys  to  return  to 
the  fleet.  His  boat  was  fired  upon  by  the  enemy,  and  he  was  severely 
wounded,  but  he  delivered  the  order  and  escaped  with  his  life. 

“The  British  were  checked  at  the  village  by  the  destruction  of  the 
lower  bridge  whose  timbers  were  used  in  the  construction  of  a breast- 
work for  the  infantry.  They  took  position  in  some  store  houses 
near  the  Saranac.  Upon  these  Captain  Brooks  hurled  some  hot 
shot,  and  burned  out  the  enemy.  Their  light  troops  endeavored 
during  the  day  to  force  a passage  of  the  Saranac,  but  were  each  time 
repulsed  by  the  guards  at  the  bridge  and  a small  company  known 
as  Aiken’s  volunteers,  of  Plattsburgh,  who  were  stationed  in  the 
stone  mill  (see  engraving  next  page)  already  mentioned.  These 
young  men  had  been  out  on  the  Beekmantown  road  in  the  morning 
and  behaved  gallantly*  and  they  garrisoned  that  mill-citadel  most 
admirably.  The  following  are  the  names  of  these  young  men,  or 
rather  lads,  for  none  of  them  were  old  enough  to  be  legally  called 
into  the  military  service:  Martin  J.  Aiken,  Azariah  C.  Flagg,  Ira 


38 


Wood,  Gustavus  A.  Bird,  James  Trowbridge,  Hazen  Mooers,  Henry 
K.  Averill,  St.  John  B.  L.  Skinner,  Frederick  P.  Allen,  Hiram  Wal- 
worth, Ethan  Everset,  Amos  Soper,  James  Patten,  Bartimeus  Brooks, 
Smith  Bateman,  Melancthon  W.  Travis  and  Flavius  Williams.  They 
were  highly  praised  by  Macomb  for  their  gallantry,  and  he  promised 
that  each  of  them  should  receive  a rifle.  This  promise  Congress 
redeemed  in  1826  by  ordering  a rifle  to  be  presented  to  each  member 
of  that  little  volunteer  company.  Several  of  these  lads  afterwards 
became  distinguished  men.  In  the  meantime  a division  of  the  British 
had  pressed  toward  the  upper  bridge,  where  General  Mooers  and 
his  militia,  as  we  have  observed,  crossed  the  bridge,  tore  it  up,  and 
used  its  timbers  for  a breastwork.  The  enemy  made  extraordinary 
efforts  to  force  a passage  there,  but  Mooers  and  his  men  stood  firm, 
and  kept  them  at  bay.  Finding  the  passage  of  the  stream  impos- 
sible under  the  circumstances,  Prevost  ordered  his  troops  to  encamp 
upon  an  elevated  ridge  about  a mile  back  from  the  river,  and  upon 
the  high  ground  north  of  the  village.  He  made  his  headquarters 
at  Allen’s  farmhouse  on  the  ridge,  and  gave  orders  for  vigorous 
preparations  for  attack.  Notwithstanding  he  was  at  the  head  of 
overwhelming  numbers,  the  events  of  that  day  convinced  him  that 
the  task  before  him  was  not  a light  one.  He  had  lost,  in  killed  and 
wounded,  since  the  dawn,  over  two  hundred  men,  while  the  loss  of 

the  Americans  did  not  exceed  forty-five.” 
************* 

THE  BATTLE  ON  THE  LAKE 

“ The  Linnett,  as  she  was  passing  to  attack  the  Eagle,  gave  the 
Saratoga  a broadside,  but  without  serious  effect.  One  of  her  shots 
demolished  a hen-coop  on  the  Saratoga,  in  which  was  a young  game- 
cock which  some  of  the  seamen  had  lately  brought  on  board.  The 
released  fowl,  startled  by  the  noise  of  cannon,  flew  upon  a gun-slide, 
and,  clapping  his  wings,  crowed  lustily  and  defiantly.  The  sailors 
cheered,  and  the  incident  appearing  to  them  as  ominous  of  victory 
for  the  Americans,  strengthened  the  courage  of  all.  Statement  to 
the  author  by  Commodore  Samuel  L.  Breese,  who  was  commander 
of  the  gunboat  Netley  in  the  action,  and  James  Sloan,  of  Oswego, 
who,  as  we  have  observed  (page  797),  was  Macdonough’s  clerk,  and 
was  a witness  to  the  affair.  He  says  that  some  of  the  sailors  were 
fond  of  cock-fighting.  This  particular  bird,  owned  on  shore,  had 
been  a formidable  antagonist,  and  by  ‘ hook  or  crook,’  they  had 
obtained  possession  of  him.” 

The  following  allusion  to  this  event  is  contained  in  a rhyming 
“ Epistle  of  Brother  Jonathan  to  Johnny  Bull,”  said  to  have  been 
written  at  near  the  close  of  1814: 

“ 0,  Johnny  Bull,  my  Joe,  John, 

Behold  on  Lake  Champlain, 

With  more  than  equal  force,  John, 

You  tried  your  fist  again; 

But  the  cock  saw  how  ’twas  going, 

And  cried  ‘ Cock-a-doodle-doo,’ 

And  Macdonough  was  victorious, 

0,  Johnny  Bull,  my  Joe!  ” 


39 


************* 

“ Among  the  brave  spirits  on  board  the  Ticonderoga  was  Mid- 
shipman Hiram  Paulding,  now  (1867)  a rear-admiral.  He  was  then 
a lad  not  seventeen  years  of  age,  but  for  want  of  officers,  he  was 
placed  in  command  of  a division  of  eight  guns.  When  the  British 
galleys  approached,  it  was  discovered  that  the  matches  for  firing 
the  cannon  were  useless.  Young  Paulding  saw  no  recourse  but  the 
flash  of  a pistol,  and  with  his  own  hand  he  thus  fired  the  guns  of 
his  section  during  a combat  of  more  than  two  hours;  and  in  the 
interval  of  the  cannon-firing,  when  the  enemy  were  within  pistol 
shot,  he  discharged  his  weapon  against  them.  These  facts  I had 
from  the  lips  of  the  late  Commodore  Tatnall. 

“ Hiram  Paulding,  a son  of  one  of  the  captors  of  Andre,  was  born 
in  Westchester  county,  New  York,  on  the  nth  of  December,  1797. 
His  first  service  in  the  navy  was  as  a midshipman,  at  thirteen  years 
of  age,  on  Lake  Ontario,  in  1812.  During  the  remainder  of  the  war 
he  was  confined  to  Lake  Champlain.  In  1815  he  accompanied 
Decatur  in  the  Constellation  frigate  to  the  Mediterranean.  He  was 
promoted  to  lieutenant,  and  served  under  Bainbridge  and  Downes. 
He  was  on  shore  for  some  time  in  1821  engaged  in  study  preparatory 
to  a more  useful  career  in  the  navy.  He  accompanied  Porter  in 
his  expedition  against  the  West  India  pirates,  and  from  that  time 
until  1865,  he  was  in  active,  arduous  and  most  useful  service,  afloat 
and  ashore,  as  subordinate  and  commander,  having  been  promoted 
to  captain  in  1843.  He  took  an  active  interest  in  the  suppression 
of  the  rebellion  that  broke  out  in  the  slave  labor  states  in  1861, 
and  in  1862  (when  the  annexed  portrait  was  drawn)  was  promoted 
to  rear  admiral.  He  was  the  first  American  commander  who  received 
a full  admiral’s  salute.  It  was  given  by  a French  frigate  lying  in 
New  York  harbor,  August  1,  1862,  on  the  occasion  of  the  admiral’s 
visit  to  that  vessel.” 

“ For  two  hours  and  twenty  minutes  this  severe  naval  battle 
raged,  while  the  thunder  of  cannon,  the  hiss  of  rockets,  the  scream 
of  bombs,  and  the  rattle  of  musketry  were  heard  on  the  shore.  It 
was  a sublime  sight,  and  was  beheld  by  hundreds  of  spectators  on 
the  headlands  of  the  Vermont  shore,  who  greeted  the  victory  with 
shouts.  It  was  a battle  characterized  by  a vigor  and  destructive- 
ness not  excelled  by  any  during  the  war,  indeed  seldom  equalled 
anywhere  or  at  any  time.  The  havoc  on  both  sides  was  dreadful, 
Midshipman  William  Lee  wrote:  ‘ I don’t  think  there  are  more 
than  five  of  our  men,  out  of  three  hundred,  but  what  are  killed  or 
wounded.  Never  was  a shower  of  hail  so  thick  as  the  shot  whistling 
about  our  ears.  Were  you  to  see  my  jacket,  waistcoat  and  trousers, 
you  would  be  astonished  to  know  how  I escaped  as  I did,  for  they 
are  literally  torn  all  to  rags  with  shot  and  splinters;  the  upper  part  of 
my  hat  was  also  shot  away.  There  is  one  of  the  marines  who  was 
in  Trafalgar  action  with  Lord  Nelson,  who  says  it  was  a mere  flea- 


40 


bite  in  comparison  with  this’ — Letter  to  his  brother  December  14, 
1814.  Midshipman  Lee  rose  to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant  and  died  on 
the  24th  of  February,  1817,  at  the  Telegraph  West  Square.” 

“ Mr.  James  Sloane  of  Oswego  informed  me  that  a few  days 
before  the  battle,  he  gave  one  of  the  seamen  a very  nice  glazed  hat. 
After  the  battle  was  over  the  sailor  came  to  him  with  the  hat  in 
his  hand,  having  a semicircular  cut  in  the  side  and  crown  made  by 
a cannon  shot  while  it  was  on  his  head.  ‘ Look  here,  Mr.  Sloane,’ 
said  the  sailor,  ‘ how  the  damned  John  Bulls  have  spoiled  my  hat.’ 
He  did  not  seem  to  reflect  for  a moment  how  nearly  the  cannon 
ball  came  to  spoiling  his  head.” 

“ Macdonough  received  the  officers  of  the  captured  vessels  with 
great  courtesy  of  manner  and  speech.  When  they  offered  him  their 
swords,  he  instantly  replied,  ‘ Gentlemen,  your  gallant  conduct 
makes  you  worthy  to  wear  your  weapons;  return  them  to  their  scab- 
bards.’ 

“ During  the  hostilities  at  Plattsburgh,  from  the  6th  until  the 
evening  of  the  nth,  scarcely  a building  in  the  village  escaped  injury 
of  some  sort.  Many  houses  were  completely  riddled.  Nine  dwell- 
ings, thirteen  stores  and  shops,  and  the  court  house  and  jail  were 
burned.  Some  of  these  were  destroyed  when  the  enemy  were  burned 
out  by  the  Brook’s  hot  shot,  as  mentioned  on  page  863.” 


DINNER  TO  MACDONOUGH 

“ A few  days  after  the  battle  the  citizens  of  Plattsburgh,  who 
had  returned  to  their  homes,  resolved  in  public  meeting,  to  give 
a public  dinner  to  Commodore  Macdonough.  A committee,  of 
which  Henry  De  Lord  was  chairman,  waited  upon  the  hero  on  board 
his  ship  with  an  invitation.  It  was  accepted  and  on  Tuesday,  the 
23rd  instant,  at  three  o’clock  p.  M.,  the  commodore,  with  Generals 
Macomb  and  Mooers,  and  other  officers  of  the  army  and  navy,  who 
were  invited  guests,  and  a number  of  citizens,  sat  down  to  a bountiful 
dinner  at  the  United  States  Hotel,  kept  by  Thomas  Green,  and  yet 
standing  in  i860,  between  the  stone  mill  and  the  bridge  over  the 
Saranac,  in  Plattsburgh.  General  Macomb’s  band  furnished  the 
music  on  the  occasion.  Peter  Sadly,  Esq.,  presided.  Seventeen 
regular  toasts  were  drunk.  The  distinguished  guests,  as  they  retired, 
were  toasted,  and  one  was  given  in  respectful  silence  to  “ The  memory 
of  Commodore  Downie,  our  brave  enemy.”  The  fallen  brave  of 
Macdonough’s  fleet  were  also  remembered  in  the  regular  toasts. 

‘ Much  credit,’  says  a writer  who  was  present,  ‘ is  due  to  Mr.  Green 
for  the  excellent  dinner  which  he  provided  for  the  occasion,  it  being 
generally  conceded  to  be  the  best  that  was  ever  given  in  Plattsburgh.’ 

“ The  following  toast  was  offered  after  Macdonough  had  left  the 
table:  ‘The  pious  and  brave  Macdonough  — the  professor  of  the 
religion  of  the  Redeemer  — preparing  for  action,  he  called  on  God, 
who  forsook  him  not  in  the  hour  of  danger;  may  he  not  be  forgotten 
by  hisjcountry.’  ” 


View  of  scene  of  Macdonough’s  decisive  victory,  looking  northeasterly  from  Bluff  Point,  Crab  Island  in  center,  Cumberland  Head 

left  and  Grand  Isle  at  right  in  distance 


42 

LIFE  OF  GENERAL  MACOMB 


“ Alexander  Macomb  was  the  son  of  a fur  merchant  of  Detroit, 
who  married  one  of  the  highly  respectable  family  of  Navarre. 
Their  son  was  born  in  Detroit  on  the  3d  of  April,  1782.  He 
became  a resident  of  New  York  in  infancy,  and  was  educated 
in  New  Jersey.  He  was  a member  of  the  ‘ New  York  Rangers,’ 
a volunteer  corps  raised  in  1779,  when  war  with  France  was 
expected.  General  North,  of  the  Revolution,  placed  him  on  his 
staff.  He  became  permanently  attached  to  the  army  as  a 
dragoon,  and  was  very  useful.  He  was  with  Wilkinson  in  the 
southwest  and  being  afterward  attached  to  a corps  of  engineers 
as  first  lieutenant,  he  was  sent  to  West  Point,  where  he  compiled 
a treatise  on  martial  law.  He  became  captain  in  1805,  and  was 
ordered  to  superintend  the  erection  of  fortifications  on  the  frontiers. 
He  was  promoted  to  major  in  1808,  and  when  the  war  commenced 
in  1812  he  was  placed  in  command  of  an  artillery  corps.  We  have 
already  met  him  several  times  in  the  course  of  this  narrative  of 
the  war.  His  crowning  achievement  was  at  Plattsburgh.  After 
the  war  he  was  stationed  at  Detroit.  He  was  made  chief  engineer 
in  1821,  and  removed  to  Washington.  He  remained  in  that  bureau 
until  1835,  when  on  the  death  of  General  Jacob  Brown,  he  was 
promoted  to  general-in-chief  of  the  army  of  the  United  States.  He 
died  at  Washington  City  on  the  25th  of  June,  1841,  aged  fifty-nine 
years.  He  was  buried  with  military  honors  in  the  Congressional 
Burying  Ground  at  Washington,  and  over  his  grave  now  stands 
a beautiful  white  marble  monument  bearing  the  following  inscrip- 
tions: 

“West  side. — ‘ALEXANDER  MACOMB,  MAJOR-GENERAL, 
Commander-in-chief  United  States  Army.  Died  at  Washington, 
the  seat  of  government,  25th  June,  1841.’ 

“East  side.- — ‘ It  were  but  small  tribute  to  his  memory  to  say  that 
in  youth  and  manhood,  he  served  his  country  in  the  profession  in 
which  he  died,  during  a period  of  more  than  forty  years,  without 
stain  or  blemish  upon  his  escutcheon.’ 

“ South  side.- — ‘ The  honors  conferred  on  him  by  President  Madison, 
received  on  the  field  of  victory  for  distinguished  and  gallant  conduct 
in  defeating  the  enemy  at  Plattsburgh,  and  the  thanks  of  Congress, 
bestowed  with  a medal  commemorative  of  this  triumph  of  the  arms 
of  the  Republic,  attest  the  high  estimate  of  his  gallantry  and  meri- 
torious services.’ 

“On  the  west  side,  over  his  name,  is  an  olive  wreath;  on  the  south 
side  an  hour  glass,  with  wings,  and  a scythe;  on  the  east  side  a simple 
cross,  and  on  the  north  side  a serpent  and  butterfly. 

“In  the  above  sketch  the  little  monument  to  Commodore  Patter- 
son is  seen  in  an  iron  railing.  Over  one  corner  of  it,  in  the  distance, 
is  seen  William  Wirt’s  monument,  and  between  it  and  Macomb’s 
is  seen  that  of  Commodore  Chauncey.” 

“The  events  on  land  and  water  at  Plattsburgh  on  the  nth  of 
September,  1814,  produced  a thrill  of  intense  joy  throughout  the 
country,  ^and  with  delight  the  people  read  the  stirring  General 


General  Alexander  Macomb 


44 


Orders  in  which,  on  the  14th  of  September,  Macomb  announced 
the  result  to  his  little  army.  Spontaneous  honors  and  praises  were 
given  by  the  people  to  him  and  Macdonough  conjointly.  Bonfires 
and  illuminations  blazed  in  almost  every  city  and  village  in  the  land, 
and  the  recent  disaster  at  the  national  capitol  was  almost  unthought 
of  for  a moment.  Legislative  resolves,  artillery,  oratory,  and  song 
were  pressed  into  the  service  of  rendering  homage  to  the  two  heroes 
and  their  men.  The  newspapers  teemed  with  eulogies,  and  at  all 
public  gatherings  and  entertainments  their  names  and  deeds  were 
mentioned  with  applause.  Governor  Tompkins  in  the  name  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  presented  Macomb  with  a superb  sword.  De 
Witt  Clinton,  Mayor  of  New  York,  presented  him,  in  the  name  of 
the  Corporation,  the  ‘ freedom  of  the  city  ’ in  a gold  box  similar 
in  character  to  the  one  given  to  General  Brown;  and  he  was  requested 
by  the  same  body  to  sit  for  his  portrait,  to  be  placed  in  the  gallery 
of  distinguished  men.  Congress  gave  him  the  thanks  of  the  nation, 
and  voted  him  a gold  medal.  He  was  commissioned  by  the  President, 
major-general  by  brevet.  When  he  returned  to  his  family  at  Belle- 
ville, New  Jersey,  the  village  was  illuminated,  and  he  was  received 
with  the  most  gratifying  tokens  of  respect.  ‘ Never  on  the  return  of 
any  hero  to  the  peaceful  bosom  of  his  family,’  said  the  New  York 
Evening  Post,  an  opposition  paper,  ‘ was  evinced  so  universal  a 
sense  of  sincere  joy  and  heartfelt  satisfaction.’ 


HONORS  FOR  MACDONOUGH 

“ Macdonough,  too,  was  nobly  honored.  The  State  of  New  York 
gave  him  two  thousand  acres  of  land.  The  State  of  Vermont  pur- 
chased two  hundred  acres  on  Cumberland  Head  and  presented  it 
to  him.  It  was  on  the  borders  of  Cumberland,  or  Plattsburgh  Bay, 
and  the  farmhouse  upon  it  overlooked  the  scene  of  his  gallant  exploits. 
The  cities  of  New  York  and  Albany  each  gave  the  hero  a valuable 
lot  of  land.  ‘ 1 hus,’  said  Macdonough  to  a friend,  while  tears  stood 
in  his  eyes,  ‘ in  one  month,  from  a poor  lieutenant  I became  a rich 
man.’  Congress  gave  him  the  thanks  of  the  nation,  and  with  his  brave 
commanders,  Henley  and  Cassin,  voted  him  a gold  medal,  with 
suitable  devices  and  inscriptions. 

“ Three  days  after  the  battle,  when  it  was  ascertained  that  the 
British  were  making  their  way  toward  the  St.  Lawrence,  General 
Macomb  discharged  the  New  York  and  Vermont  militia,  and  the 
solemn  rites  of  burial  were  accorded  to  the  dead  of  both  nations. 
Fifteen  officers,  including  Commodore  Downie,  were  laid  in  the  Platts- 
burgh Burying  Ground,  and  a neat  marble  slab,  with  the  name  of 
the  commemorated  cut  upon  it,  was  placed  at  the  head  of  each  grave. 
On  each  side  of  Downie’s  grave  a pine  tree  was  planted.  These 
were  noble  in  stature  when  I made  the  annexed  sketch,  but  one  has 
since  disappeared.  A few  years  ago  a near  relative  of  the  British 
commander  laid  a recumbent  marble  slab,  suitably  inscribed  upon 
brick  walls,  over  his  remains.  Around  it  are  the  graves  of  the  other 
officers.” 


45 


“The  following  is  a copy  of  the  inscription: 

“ Sacred  to  the  memory  of  George  Downie,  Esq.,  a post  captain 
in  the  Royal  British  Navy,  who  gloriously  fell  on  board  his  B.M.S. 
the  Confiance  while  leading  the  vessels  under  his  command  to  the 
attack  of  the  American  flotilla  at  anchor  in  Cumberland  Bay,  off" 
Plattsburgh,  on  the  nth  of  September,  1814.” 

“ To  mark  the  spot  where  the  remains  of  a gallant  officer  and 
sincere  friend  were  honorably  interred,  this  stone  has  been  erected 
by  his  affectionate  sister-in-law,  Mary  Downie,  1851.” 

LIFE  OF  COMMODORE  MACDONOUGH 

“ Thomas  Macdonough  was  born  in  the  county  of  New  Castle, 
Delaware,  on  the  23  d of  December,  1783.  His  father  was  a physician 
and  a major  in  the  Continental  army.  Thomas  entered  the  navy 
as  midshipman  in  1798.  He  was  with  Decatur  in  the  Mediterranean, 
where  he  behaved  with  great  gallantry,  especially  in  the  affair  of  the 
Philadelphia.  His  spirit  was  shown  in  the  harbor  of  Gibraltar  on 
one  occasion.  He  was  then  first  lieutenant  of  the  Siren.  Near  her 
lay  an  American  merchant  brig.  A boat  from  a British  man-of- 
war  went  alongside  of  her,  and  its  crew  seized  a seaman  who  was 
claimed  as  a British  subject.  Macdonough  saw  it.  His  commander 
was  absent.  He  instantly  armed  and  manned  his  gig  and  gave 
chase.  He  overhauled  the  boat  under  the  guns  of  the  British  frigate, 
released  him,  and  took  him  back  to  the  merchant  vessel.  The  British 
captain,  in  great  rage,  appeared  on  the  Siren,  and  inquired  of  Mac- 
donough how  he  dared  to  take  a man  from  his  boat.  ‘ He  was  under 
the  protection  of  my  country’s  flag,  and  it  was  my  duty,’  was  the 
reply.  With  warm  oaths  the  captain  swore  he  would  lay  his  frigate 
alongside  and  sink  the  Siren.  ‘ While  she  swims  you  shall  not  have 
the  man!’  said  Macdonough.  ‘ You’ll  repent  of  your  rashness  young 
man,’  rejoined  the  Englishman.  ‘ Suppose  I had  been  in  that  boat, 
would  you  have  dared  to  commit  such  an  act!’  ‘ I should  have  made 
the  attempt  sir!’  ‘What!  would  you  interfere  if  I were  to  impress 
men  fron  that  brig?’  ‘ You  have  only  to  try  it,  sir,’  was  Mac- 
donough’s  cool  reply.  He  did  not  try  it. 

“ Macdonough  was  sent  to  Lake  Champlain  when  the  war  of 
1812  broke  out.  There  he  won  unfading  laurels,  as  we  find  recorded 
in  the  text.  From  the  close  of  the  war  his  health  gave  way,  yet  he 
lived  for  more  than  ten  years  with  the  tooth  of  consumption  under- 
mining the  citadel  of  his  life. 

In  personal  appearance  Commodore  Macdonough  was  tall,  digni- 
fied and  commanding.  His  features  were  regular  and  pleasing.  His 
hair  and  complexion  were  light  and  his  eyes  were  blue,  but  he  had 
a firm  and  steady  look.  His  early  country  training  gave  him  an 
active,  vigorous  frame. 

Macdonough  as  a commanding  officer  always  had  the  respect  and 
love  of  the  officers  and  men  under  him.  In  1809  when  he  was 
ordered  from  command  of  the  U.  S.  frigate  “ Essex”  to  take  charge 
of  the  gun-boats  in'  Connecticut  and  Long  Island,  the  crew  of  the 
“Essex”  signed  and  presented  him  with  a letter  expressing  their 


46 


“ heartfelt  sorrow  In  1820,  after  he  became  famous  as  the  hero 
of  Lake  Champlain,  the  crew  of  the  “ Guerriere  ” presented  him 
with  a handsome  sword  as  a token  of  their  appreciation  of  his  efforts 
to  promote  the  “ comfort  and  happiness  of  his  men.”  These  inci- 
dents are  interesting  as  showing  some  of  his  distinguishing  traits. 
They  also  tend  to  show  that  fame  did  not  change  his  nature  in  the 
slightest. 

Macdonough  was  married  December  12,  1812,  in  Middletown, 
Connecticut,  to  Lucy  Ann  Shaler,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Lucre- 
tia  Ann  (Denning)  Shaler  of  Middletown. 

Ten  children  were  born  to  Commodore  and  Mrs.  Macdonough, 
five  of  whom  died  young. 

Commodore  Macdonough  died  of  pulmonary  consumption  on  the 
10th  of  November,  1825,  on  board  the  merchant  brig  “Edwin,” 
when  about  six  hundred  miles  east  of  New  York  while  he  was  on  his 
way  home  from  Gibraltar,  where  he  had  been  bravely  battling 
against  the  disease  he  had  contracted  during  his  years  of  toil,  trouble 
and  worry  on  Lake  Champlain.  He  was  only  41  years  of  age. 

Thomas  Macdonough  gave  his  life  for  his  country. 

He  was  buried  at  Middletown,  Connecticut,  beside  his  devoted 
wife,  in  the  soil  he  loved,  fought  and  died  for.  A single  monument 
marks  the  two  graves  and  bears  these  inscriptions: — ■ 

SACRED 

TO  THE  MEMORY  OF 

COM.  THOMAS  MACDONOUGH 

OF  THE  U.  S.  NAVY 

He  was  born  in  the  state  of  Delaware  Dec.  1783,  & died 
at  sea  of  pulmonary  consumption  while  on  his  return 
from  the  command  of  the  American  Squadron  in  the 
Mediterranean  on  the  10  Nov.  1825.  He  was 
distinguished  in  the  world  as  the  Hero  of  Lake 
Champlain;  in  the  Church  of  Christ  as  a faithful,  zealous 
and  consistent  Christian  ; in  the  community  where  he 
resided  when  absent  from  professional  duties,  as  an 
amiable,  upright  and  valuable  citizen. 


SACRED 

TO  THE  MEMORY  OF 

MRS.  LUCY  ANN 

WIFE  OF 

Com.  Thomas  Macdonough 

AND  DAUGHTER  OF 

Nathaniel  & Lucy  Ann  Shaler. 

The  richest  gifts  of  Nature  and  of  Grace  adorned  her 
mind  & heart,  & at  her  death  Genius,  Friendship  & Piety 
mourned  their  common  loss. 

She  preceded  her  husband  to  the  realms  of  Glory 
only  a few  short  months,  having  departed 
this  life  Aug.  9,  1825,  Ae.  35. 


They  were  lovely  and  pleasant  in  their  lives,  and  in 
their  death  they  were  undivided. 


Monument  erected  by  his  family  in  memory  of  Commodore  Thomas 
Macdonough,  in  the  cemetery  at  Middletown.  Conn. 


CHAPTER  III 


ADMIRAL  MAHAN’S  VIEWS 

Speaking  of  the  progress  of  the  war  during  the  season  of  1814, 
Admiral  Mahan  in  his  work  “Sea  Power  in  its  Relations  to  the  War 
of  1812,”  says: 

“ Except  at  Baltimore  and  New  Orleans  — mere  defensive  suc- 
cesses — nothing  but  calamity  befell  the  American  arms.  To  the 
battle  of  Lake  Champlain  it  was  owing  that  the  British  occupancy 
of  United  States  soil  at  the  end  of  the  year  was  such  that  the  Duke 
of  Wellington  advised  that  no  claim  for  territorial  cession  could  be 
considered  to  exist,  and  that  the  basis  of  uti  possidetis,  upon  which 
it  was  proposed  to  treat,  was  untenable.  The  earnestness  of  the 
government,  however,  in  seeking  the  changes  specified,  is  indicated 
by  the  proposition  seriously  made  to  the  Duke  to  take  the  command 
in  America.” 

“By  Macdonough’s  report,  the  action  had  lasted  two  hours  an d 
twenty  minutes,  without  intermission.  Few  combats  have  been 
more  resolutely  contested.  * * * There  was  reason  for  obstinacy, 

additional  to  the  natural  resolution  of  the  parties  engaged.  The 
Battle  of  Lake  Champlain,  more  nearly  than  any  other  incident  of 
the  War  of  1812,  merits  the  epithet  ‘decisive.’  The  moment  the 
issue  was  known,  Prevost  retreated  into  Canada;  entirely  properly 
as  indicated  by  the  Duke  of  Wellington’s  words  before  and  after. 

“The  war  was  practically  ended  by  Prevost’s  retreat.  What  re- 
mained was  purely  episodical  in  character,  and  should  be  so 
regarded.” 

“The  Commissioners  who  represented  Great  Britain  in  the  negotia- 
tions looking  toward  the  Treaty  of  Peace,  stated  the  demands  of 
their  Government  in  a note  dated  August  19,  1814.  They  were 
framed  on  lines  which  showed  consciousness  of  mastery. 

“1.  The  question  of  abandoning  the  practice  of  impressment  would 
not  be  so  much  as  entertained.  They  would  not  even  discuss  it. 

“2.  Their  position  with  regard  to  irregular  blockades  was  equally 
decisive. 

“3.  As  to  compensation  for  seizures  under  the  Orders  in  Council, 
the  instructions  of  the  British  Government  read: 

“ ‘You  cannot  be  too  peremptory  in  discouraging,  at  the  outset 
the  smallest  expectation  of  any  restitution  of  captures  made  under 
the  Orders  in  Council.’” 

And  Admiral  Mahan  says  on  page  416  of  Vol.  2 of  his  history: 

“ Military  and  naval  weakness  combined  with  the  changed  con- 


48 


49 


ditions  (Napoleon’s  defeat)  in  Europe,  made  the  United  States 
powerless  when  thus  confronted  with  refusal.” 

The  British  commissioners,  moreover,  demanded  suitable  arrange- 
ments for  the  establishment  of  the  communities  of  Indians  as  a sover- 
eign state  and  a rectification  of  the  Canadian  frontier  by  such  a 
cession  of  the  northern  part  of  Maine  as  would  establish  a direct  com- 
munication between  Quebec  and  Halifax. 

“ If,”  the  Earl  of  Liverpool,  Prime  Minister  of  England  wrote 
on  September  2,  1S14,  to  Lord  Castlereagh,  the  British  Foreign 
Secretary,  “ our  campaign  in  Canada  should  be  as  successful  as 
our  military  preparations  would  lead  us  to  expect;  if  our  commander 
does  his  duty,  I am  persuaded  we  shall  have  acquired  by  our  arms 
every  point  on  the  Canadian  frontier,  which  we  ought  to  insist  upon 
keeping.” 

There  were  frequent  interchanges  between  the  representatives 
of  the  two  nations  during  September,  1814. 

On  September  27,  1814,  the  accounts  of  the  capture  of  Washington 
and  the  burning  of  the  capitol  were  published  in  London.  This 
gave  encouragement  to  the  already  confident  Britishers.  They  were 
very  sanguine  about  future  operations.  First,  they  wrere  to  occupy 
Rhode  Island.  Then  they  were  to  proceed  southward,  destroy 
Baltimore,  occupy  several  important  points  on  the  cost  of  Georgia 
and  the  Carolinas,  take  Mobile  and  wind  up  by  capturing  New 
Orleans. 

There  wTas  a plan  to  send  very  large  re-enforcements  to  America; 
so  numerous,  in  fact  that  Lord  Hill,  Wellington’s  second  in  the 
Peninsula,  had  been  designated  for  the  command. 

Meanwhde  on  October  21st,  just  forty  days  after  it  occurred,  the 
news  of  Macdonough’s  smashing  victory  at  Plattsburgh  reached 
London.  That  changed  the  situation  completely.  “ Had  it  not 
been  for  this  unfortunate  adventure  on  Lake  Champlain,”  wrote 
Lord  Bathurst  who  was  acting  foreign  secretary  in  the  absence  of 
Castlereagh,  “ I really  believe  we  should  have  signed  a peace  by 
the  end  of  this  month.  This  will  put  the  enemy  in  spirits.  The 
campaign  will  end  by  our  doing  much  wThere  we  thought  we  should 
have  done  little,  and  doing  nothing  where  we  expected  everything.” 

The  command  of  the  British  army  in  America  was  offered  to  the 
Duke  of  Wellington. 

Admiral  Mahan  says  further: 

“ The  offer,  which  was  really  a request,  brought  Wellington  by 
a side  wind  into  the  American  negotiations,  and  enabled  him  to 
give  the  government  the  weight  of  his  name  and  authority  in  con- 
cluding a peace  otherwise  than  on  their  ‘just  pretensions.’  The 
war,  he  said,  has  been  honorable  to  Great  Britain;  meaning  doubtless 
that,  considering  the  huge  physical  mass  and  the  proximity  of  the 
United  States,  it  was  well  done  to  have  escaped  injury,  as  it  was 
militarily  disgraceful  to  the  American  government,  with  such  super- 
iority, to  have  been  so  impotent.  But,  he  continued,  neither  I 
nor  any  one  else  can  achieve  success,  in  the  way  of  conquests,  unless 
you  have  naval  superiority  on  the  lakes.  That  was  what  was  needed; 
‘ not  a general,  nor  general  officers  and  troops.  Till  that  supe- 


riority  is  acquired,  it  is  impossible,  according  to  my  notion,  to  main- 
tain an  army  in  such  a situation  as  to  keep  the  enemy  out  of  the  whole 
frontier,  much  less  to  make  any  conquest  from  the  enemy,  which, 
with  those  superior  means,  might,  with  reasonable  hopes  of  success, 
be  undertaken.  * * * The  question  is,  whether  we  can  obtain 

this  naval  superiority  on  the  lakes.  If  we  cannot,  I shall  do  you 
but  little  good  in  America;  and  I shall  go  there  only  to  prove  the 
truth  of  Prevost’s  defence,  and  to  sign  a peace  which  might  as  well 
be  signed  now.’  This  endorsed  not  only  Prevost’s  retreat,  but  also 
the  importance  of  Macdonough’s  victory.  The  Duke  then  added 
frankly  that,  in  the  state  of  the  war,  they  had  no  right  to  demand 
any  concession  of  territory.” 

Wellington’s  letter  was  dated  November  18,  1814.  Thus  one  of 
the  greatest  generals  in  the  history  of  the  world  bore  testimony  to 
the  decisive  character  of  Macdonough’s  victory. 

The  Treaty  of  Ghent  was  signed  about  a month  later,  on  Christmas 
eve,  1814.  The  war  had  renewed  and  reinstated  the  national  feel- 
ings and  character  which  the  revolution  had  given. 

“ The  people  now  have  more  general  objects  of  attachment  with 
which  their  pride  and  political  opinions  are  connected,”  wrote 
Albert  Gallatin  in  May,  1816,  volume  1,  page  700,  “Writings  of 
Gallatin.”  “ They  are  more  Americans;  they  feel  and  act  as  a 
nation;  and  I hope  that  the  permanency  of  the  Union  is  thereby 
better  secured.” 

“ Such,  even  at  so  early  a date,  could  be  seen  to  be  the  meaning 
of  the  War  of  1812  in  the  progress  of  the  national  history.  The 
people,  born  by  war  to  independence,  had  by  war  again  been  trans- 
formed from  childhood,  absorbed  in  the  visible  objects  immediately 
surrounding  it,  to  youth  with  its  dawning  vision  and  opening  enthus- 
iasms. * * * They  issued  from  the  contest,  battered  by  adversity, 
but  through  it  at  last  fairly  possessed  by  the  conception  of  a national 
unity,  which  during  days  of  material  prosperity  had  struggled  in 
vain  against  the  predominance  of  immediate  interests  and  local 
prepossessions.” 


Photo  by  Miss  Sarah  Weaver,  Plattsburgh,  N.  Y. 

Scene  of  Macdonough’s  victory  on  Lake  Champlain — Green 
Mountains  of  Vermont  in  distance 


CHAPTER  IV 


STORY  OF  BATTLE  BY  PARTICIPANTS 

In  the  course  of  his  letter  to  Secretary  of  the  Navy  Jones,  Com- 
modore Macdonough  says: 

“ For  several  days  the  enemy  were  on  their  way  to  Plattsburgh 
by  land  and  water,  and  it  being  well  understood  that  an  attack 
would  be  made  at  the  same  time  by  their  land  and  naval  forces, 
I determined  to  await  at  anchor  the  approach  of  the  latter. 

“ At  eight  A.  M.  the  lookout  boat  announced  the  approach  of  the 
enemy.  At  nine  he  anchored  in  a line  ahead  at  about  300  yards 
distance  from  my  line,  his  ship  opposed  to  the  Saratoga,  his  brig  to 
the  Eagle  (Robert  Henley)  his  galleys,  13  in  number  to  the  schooner, 
sloop  and  the  division  of  our  galleys,  one  of  the  sloops  assisting 
their  ship  and  brig,  the  other  assisting  their  galleys.  Our  remaining 
galleys  w*ith  the  Saratoga  and  Eagle,  in  this  situation  the  whole 
force  on  both  sides  became  engaged,  the  Saratoga  suffering  much 
from  the  heavy  fire  of  the  Confiance.  I could  perceive  at  the  same 
time,  however,  that  our  fire  was  very  destructive  to  her.  The 
Ticonderoga,  Lt.  Commt.  Cassin,  gallantly  sustained  her  full 
share  of  the  action.  At  f 10  the  Eagle,  not  being  able  to  bring  her 
guns  to  bear,  cut  her  cable  and  anchored  in  a more  eligible  position 
between  my  ship  and  the  Ticonderoga,  wThich  she  very  much  annoyed 
the  enemy  but  unfortunately  leaving  me  exposed  to  a galling  fire 
from  the  enemy’s  brig.  Our  guns  on  the  starboard  side  being  nearly 
all  dismounted  are  not  manageable,  a stern  anchor  was  let  go,  the 
bowser  cable  cut  and  the  ship  winded  with  a fresh  broadside  on  the 
enemy’s  ship,  which  soon  after  surrendered.  Our  broadside  was  then 
sprung  to  bear  on  the  brig,  which  surrendered  in  about  15  minutes 
after. 

“ The  sloop  that  was  opposed  to  the  Eagle  had  struck  some  time 
before  and  drifted  down  the  line,  the  sloop  which  was  with  their 
galleys  having  struck  also.  Three  of  their  galleys  are  said  to  be 
sunk;  the  others  pulled  oflF.  Our  galleys  were  about  obeying  with 
alacrity  the  signal  to  follow  them  wThen  all  the  vessels  were  reported 
to  me  to  be  in  a sinking  state.  It  then  became  necessary  to  annul 
the  signal  to  the  galleys  and  order  their  men  to  the  pumps.  I could 
only  look  at  the  enemy’s  galleys  going  off  in  a shattered  condition, 
for  there  was  not  a mast  in  either  squadron  that  could  stand  to  make 
sail  on;  the  lower  rigging,  being  nearly  all  shot  away,  hung  down  as 
though  it  had  been  just  placed  over  the  mast  heads. 

“ The  Saratoga  had  55  round  shot  in  her  hull;  the  Confiance  105. 
The  enemy’s  shot  passed  principally  just  over  our  heads,  as  there 


52 


were  not  20  whole  hammocks  in  the  nettings  at  the  close  of  the  action 
which  lasted,  without  intermission,  two  hours  and  twenty  minutes. 

* * * The  Saratoga  was  twice  set  on  fire  by  hot  shot  from 
the  enemy’s  ships.” 

CAPTAIN  HENLEY’S  LETTER 

Captain  Henley  in  his  letter  to  Secretary  Jones  says: 

“We  were  anchored  in  the  harbor  of  Plattsburgh  in  a line  north 
and  south,  at  about  the  distance  of  100  yards,  the  Eagle  north,  the 
Saratoga  in  the  center,  and  the  Ticonderoga  south.  The  enemy 
approached  in  a line  abreast,  having  a favorable  wind  that  enabled 
them  to  choose  their  position.  The  enemy’s  brig  took  a station 
off  the  starboard  bow  of  the  Eagle  at  about  1 mile  distance,  the  ship 
about  one  point  abaft  our  beam,  and  the  sloop  Linnet,  of  n guns, 
made  an  effort  to  obtain  a raking  position  under  our  stern.  Perceiv- 
ing her  intentions,  however,  I ordered  a broadside  to  be  fired  into  her, 
which  caused  her  to  strike  her  colors.  As  soon  as  the  enemy 
approached  within  point  blank  distance,  this  brig  commenced  a most 
destructive  fire  upon  their  ship  and  continued  to  direct  her  whole 
broadside,  excluding  the  18  pounders  forward,  which  were  occasion- 
ally fired  at  the  brig,  who  relieved  her  position  as  occasion  required, 
and  kept  up  a raking  and  most  destructive  fire  upon  this  vessel. 

“I  was  confident  that  it  was  of  the  greatest  importance  to  endeavor 
first  to  carry  the  enemy’s  ship  to  insure  us  of  success.  For  a great 
length  of  time  after  the  action  commenced  the  enemy’s  ship  leveled 
her  whole  force  upon  the  Eagle,  dealing  out  destruction. 

“After  having  sustained  the  severest  of  the  action  for  the  space 
of  one  hour,  having  my  springs  shot  away  and  many  of  the  starboard 
guns  disabled,  it  was  out  of  my  power  to  bring  a gun  to  bear  upon 
the  ship  or  brig.  Consequently  I ordered  the  cable  cut  and  cast 
the  brig,  taking  an  advantageous  position  a little  south  of  the 
Saratoga,  bringing  my  larboard  broadside  to  bear  upon  the  ship 
which  was  very  shortly  obligated  to  haul  down  her  colors.  Our 
fire  was  then  directed  to  the  brig  ; under  the  space  of  eight  minutes 
she  struck  and  the  victory  terminated  in  our  favor.  We  then  turned 
our  attention  to  the  galleys,  some  of  which,  it  is  believed,  sunk, 
and  the  remainder  made  their  escape.  The  Eagle  was  in  too 
shattered  a condition  to  pursue  them.” 

CAPTAIN  PRING’S  REPORT 

Captain  Pring’s  letter  to  Commander-in-Chief  Yeo  contains  the 
following: 

“The  fleet  came  up  on  the  3d  inst.,  but  for  want  of  stores  for  the 
equipment  of  the  guns,  could  not  move  forward  until  the  nth.  At 
daybreak  we  weighed,  and  at  7 were  in  full  view  of  the  enemy’s 
fleet,  consisting  of  a ship,  brig,  schooner,  and  one  sloop,  moored  in 
line  abreast  of  their  encampment,  with  a division  of  five  gunboats 
on  each  flank.  At  forty  minutes  past  seven,  after  the  officers 
commanding  vessels  and  the  flotilla  had  received  their  final  instruc- 


'■M. 


f. 

r • 

h 


&■ 


cr^y  ' <.  ; • zt'  /^- - 

^s,  ^ ^ ;***■/  *%>  s 


,£T 


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^ ^ ✓<*%*  f ^ / ' 
r f~jf  „ j _ 


■ • - ;•  — / '*"'  ^ - 


Facsimile  of  Macdonough’s  dispatch  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy 
announcing  the  victory  over  the  British  Squadron  on  Lake  Champlain,  September 

II,  1814. 


54 


tions  as  to  the  plan  of  attack,  we  made  sail  in  order  of  battle. 
Captain  Downie  had  determined  on  laying  his  ship  athwart-hawse  of 
the  enemy’s,  directing  Lieutenant  McGhee  of  the  Chub  to  support 
me  in  the  Linnet  in  engaging  the  brig  to  the  right,  and  Lieutenant 
Hicks  of  the  Finch,  with  the  flotilla  of  gunboats,  to  attack  the 
schooner  and  sloop  on  the  left  of  the  enemy’s  line. 

“At  8 o’clock  the  enemy’s  gunboats  and  smaller  vessels  commenced 
a heavy  and  galling  fire  on  our  line.  At  io  minutes  after  8 the  Con- 
fiance,  having  two  anchors  shot  away  from  her  larboard  bow,  and 
the  wind  baffling,  was  obliged  to  anchor  (though  not  in  the  situation 
proposed)  within  two  cables  length  of  her  adversary.  The  Linnet 
and  Chub  soon  afterwards  took  their  allotted  stations,  something 
short  of  that  distance,  when  the  crews  on  both  sides  cheered  and 
commenced  a spirited  and  close  action.  A short  time,  however, 
deprived  me  of  the  valuable  services  of  Lieutenant  McGhee,  who, 
from  having  his  cables,  bowsprit  and  mainboom  shot  away,  drifted 
within  the  enemy’s  line  and  was  obliged  to  surrender. 

“From  the  light  airs  and  smoothness  of  the  water,  the  fire  on  each 
side  proved  very  destructive  from  the  commencement  of  the  engage- 
ment, and,  with  the  exception  of  the  brig,  that  of  the  enemy  appeared 
united  against  the  Confiance.  After  two  hours’  severe  conflict 
with  our  opponent  she  cut  her  cable,  run  down  and  took  shelter 
between  the  ship  and  the  schooner,  which  enabled  us  to  direct  our 
fire  against  the  division  of  the  enemy’s  gunboats  and  ship,  which 
had  so  long  annoyed  us  during  our  close  engagement  with  the  brig 
without  any  return  on  our  part.  . At  this  time  the  fire  of  the  enemy’s 
ship  slackened  considerably,  having  several  of  her  guns  dismounted, 
when  she  cut  her  cable  and  winded  her  larboard  broadside  to  bear 
on  the  Confiance,  who  in  vain  endeavored  to  effect  the  same 
operation.  At  33  minutes  past  10,  I was  much  distressed  to  observe 
that  the  Confiance  struck  her  colors.  The  whole  attention  of  the 
enemy’s  force  then  became  directed  towards  the  Linnet.  The 
shattered  and  disabled  state  of  the  masts,  sails,  riggings,  and  yards 
precluded  the  most  distant  hope  of  being  able  to  effect  an  escape  by 
cutting  the  cable.  1 he  result  of  doing  so  must  in  a few  minutes 
have  been  her  drifting  alongside  the  enemy’s  vessels,  close  under 
her  lee;  but  in  the  hope  the  flotilla  of  gunboats,  who  had  abandoned 
the  object  assigned  them,  would  perceive  our  wants  and  come  to 
our  assistance,  which  would  afford  a reasonable  prospect  of  being 
towed  clear,  I determined  to  resist  the  then  destructive  cannonad- 
ing of  the  whole  of  the  enemy’s  fleet,  and  at  the  same  time  dispatched 
Lieut.  H.  Drew,  to  ascertain  the  state  of  the  Confiance.  At  45  minutes 
after  10,  I was  apprised  of  the  irreparable  loss  she  had  sustained  by 
the  death  of  her  brave  commander  (whose  merits  it  would  be  pre- 
sumptuous in  me  to  extol),  as  well  as  the  great  slaughter  which  had 
taken  place  on  board,  and  observing  the  maneuvers  of  the  flotilla 
that  I could  enjoy  no  further  expectations  of  relief,  the  situation  of  my 
gallant  comrades,  who  had  so  nobly  fought  and  even  now  fast  falling 
by  my  side,  demanded  the  surrender  of  his  Majesty’s  brig  entrusted 
to  my  command,  to  prevent  a useless  waste  of  valuable  lives,  and, 
at  thejrequest  of  the  surviving  officers  and  men,  I gave  the  painful 
orders  for  the  colors  to  be  struck. 


55 


“Lieutenant  Hicks  of  the  Finch  had  the  mortification  to  strike  on 
a reef  of  rocks  to  the  eastward  of  Crab  Island  about  the  middle  of 
the  engagement,  which  prevented  his  rendering  that  assistance  to  the 
squadron  that  might,  from  an  officer  of  such  ability,  have  been 
expected. 

* * * “It  now  becomes  the  most  pleasing  part  of  my  duty  to 

notice  to  you  the  determined  skill  and  bravery  of  the  officers  and 
men  in  this  unequal  contest;  but  it  grieves  me  to  state  that  the  loss 
sustained  in  maintaining  it  has  been  so  great;  that  of  the  enemy  I 
understand,  amounts  to  something  more  than  the  same  number. 

“ I have  much  satisfaction  in  making  you  acquainted  with 
the  humane  treatment  the  wounded  have  received  from 
Commodore Macdonough.  They  were  immediately  removed 
to  his  own  hospital  on  Crab  Island,  and  were  furnished  with 
every  requisite.  His  generous  and  polite  attention,  also,  to 
myself,  officers  and  men,  will  ever  hereafter  be  gratefully 
remembered.” 


The  reverse  of  the  gold  medal  presented  by  Congress  to  Commodore  Macdonough. 


CHAPTER  V 


THE  GOOD  WORK  OF  THE  MILITIA  AND  VOLUNTEERS 

No  account  of  the  battle  of  Plattsburgh  would  be  complete,  with- 
out the  description  of  the  gallant  services  of  the  militia  and  volunteers, 
as  narrated  by  their  immediate  commanding  officer,  General  Mooers, 
and  splendidly  confirmed  by  General  Macomb  of  the  regular  troops. 
It  is  calculated  to  cause  the  bosom  to  swell  with  pride  in  American 
citizenship  to  read  these  candid  and  authentic  accounts  of  eye  wit- 
nesses, of  the  patriotism  and  gallantry  of  the  citizen  soldiers  of  those 
days. 

When  General  Mooers  issued  his  call  for  the  militia  to  turn  out, 
the  whole  country-side  rose  en  masse , and  hastened  to  the  scene 
of  their  country’s  peril. 

These  untrained  yeomen,  according  to  the  evidence  of  eye  wit- 
nesses, rose  to  feats  of  gallantry  and  daring  which  have  never  been 
excelled  in  the  history  of  this  or  any  other  country. 

Boys  of  under  eighteen  formed  companies,  and  the  exploits  of 
“Aiken’s  volunteers  ” form  a most  heroic  chapter  in  the  history  of 
the  War  of  1812. 

The  captain  of  one  company  of  “ exempts  ” from  Essex  county, 
Jonathan  Lynde,  was  a revolutionary  veteran.  The  congressman 
from  this  district,  Hon.  Benjamin  Pond,  marched  as  a private  in 
the  ranks  of  the  militia  company  from  the  town  of  Schroon,  Essex 
county. 

Major-General  Benjamin  Mooers  who  was  in  command  of  the 
militia  during  the  battle,  was  a veteran  officer  of  the  revolution, 
and  was  well  qualified  to  write  of  the  conduct  of  his  own  men  in 
battle. 

In  his  report  to  Governor  Tompkins,  dated  September  16,  1814, 
regarding  the  part  taken  by  the  men  in  the  battle,  he  states: 

“ On  the  first  appearance  of  the  enemy  I issued  an  order  to  call 
out  the  militia  of  Clinton  and  Essex,  and  soon  after  of  my  whole 
division. 

Their  promptness  in  turning  out  both  in  Clinton  and  Essex  entitled 
both  officers  and  privates  with  few  exceptions  to  the  thanks  and 
gratitude  of  their  country,  as  was  likewise  the  case  in  every  other 
county  and  district  which  has  been  called  upon.  A general  spirit 
of  active  patriotism  seems  to  have  prevailed  throughout.” 

“ From  old  man  to  youth  scarcely  able  to  bear  arms  they  came 
pouring  to  our  assistance  by  thousands.” 

Regarding  the  conduct  of  his  men  in  the  action  on  September 
6,  he  writes: 


56 


57 


“ The  most  of  my  troops  were  but  little  in  his  (Major  Wool’s) 
rear.  They  soon  formed  a continued  and  smart  fire  upon  thejenemy 
as  he  advanced.  Knowing  the  enemy  to  be  in  great  force  and  as 
he  advanced  upon  two  roads  we  could  have  no  prospect  of  stopping 
his  career,  but  we  continued  to  check  and  thwart  his  movements 
with  considerable  loss  to  the  enemy  and  inconsiderable  one  to  us. 

The  militia  retreated  over  the  river  Saranac  and  lined  the  south 
bank  and  disputed  the  passage  of  the  river  with  spirit  and  success.” 

Again,  regarding  the  conduct  of  his  men  in  the  action  on  the 
Salmon  river  road  on  the  nth,  he  writes: 

“ In  disputing  the  passage  of  the  river  a sharp  contest  ensued. 
The  militia  under  the  command  of  Majors  Sanford  and  Wadhams, 
two  excellent  officers,  stood  their  ground  during  a number  of  well 
directed  fires  and  until  the  enemy  had  effected  the  passage  of  the 
river  and  ascended  the  bank;  when  a retreat  was  ordered  and  affected 
in  good  order  before  a force  evidently  far  superior,  carefully  improving 
every  good  position  to  continue  our  fire  upon  them  untd  we 
approached  the  opening  toward  the  village  of  Salmon  river  a distance 
of  about  two  miles,  where  we  had  two  field  pieces  planted  under 
the  direction  of  Lieutenant  Sumpter  of  the  U.  S.  Light  Artillery, 
with  that  of  the  militia  stopped  the  progress  of  the  enemy  and  he 
soon  began  his  retreat.  We  pursued  in  our  turn.” 

Regarding  the  conduct  of  Major  Wool,  General  Mooers  writes 
Governor  Tompkins: 

“ Too  much  praise  cannot  be  given  Maj’r  Wool  for  his  cool  and 
intrepid  conduct  and  to  the  officers  and  men  under  him.”  (in  the 
action  on  September  6th) 

And  again : “ The  mead  of  praise  is  due  to  Maj’r  Wool  in  preference 
to  any  officer  of  the  regular  officers  in  the  affair  of  the  6th.  Col. 
Apling  was  about  three  quarters  of  a mile  in  advance  of  the  village 
as  was  also  Capt.  Sproul.  I have  no  doubt  they  did  their  duty. 
They  were  at  a considerable  distance  on  our  right  principally  on 
another  road  nor  did  I consider  them  under  my  command.” 

From  Plattsburgh  under  date  of  November  8,  1814,  General  Mooers 
writes  further  to  Governor  Tompkins  regarding  Major  Wool  as 
follows: 

“ In  General  Macomb’s  official  report  to  the  Secretary  of  War 
relative  to  the  attack  on  this  place  September  last,  Major  Wool  has 
not  had  that  mention  of  his  brave  and  gallant  conduct  that  he  is 
justly  entitled  to. 

Maj’r  Wool  joined  me  about  6 o’clock  in  the  morning  of  the  6th 
of  Septem’r  about  7 miles  in  advance  of  the  forts  on  the  Beekman- 
town  road.  Soon  after  the  action  commenced  in  which  Major  Wool 
took  a very  active  and  decisive  part  and  kept  his  command  in  good 
order  under  a constant  and  continual  fighting,  until  we  retreated 
into  the  village  and  by  his  exertions  and  those  under  his  command 
and  the  militia,  that  day  there  was  more  of  the  enemy  killed  and 
wounded  than  at  any  other  time,  which  severe  check  upon  the  enemy 
upon  his  first  advance  was  perhaps  the  means  of  saving  this  place. 
The  conduct  of  Major  Wool  was  under  my  observation,  and  from 
his  meritorious  conduct  it  would  be  pleasant  to  me  that  your 


58 


Excellency  should  report  the  same  to  the  Secretary  of  War  in  hopes 
that  he  may  be  noticed  by  the  President.” 

Governor  Tompkins  appears  to  have  felt  keenly  the  failure  of 
the  president  to  mention  in  his  message  to  Congress  the  services 
of  the  New  York  militia  at  Plattsburgh,  and  on  the  Niagara  frontier, 
as  under  date  of  October  3,  1814,  in  a personal  letter  to  the  Hon. 
Jonathan  Fisk,  member  of  Congress  from  New  York,  he  writes: 

“ I have  noticed  with  considerable  regret  the  pointed  neglect  of 
Gen’l  Peter  B.  Porter  & his  gallant  volunteers  in  the  President’s 
message  to  Congress.”  * * * 

“ In  noticing  the  affair  at  Plattsburgh  too,  the  President  seems 
carefully  to  have  avoided  the  mention  of  New  York  or  Vermont 
Militia.  At  Baltimore  where  all  would  have  distinguished  them- 
selves had  not  the  enemy  retired  unmolested  and  safely  on  board 
without  even  being  observed,  the  praises  of  the  militia  are  trumpetted 
forth.  But  it  is  said  that  at  Plattsburgh  the  enemy  was  gallantly 
repulsed  by  a force,  a part  only  of  which  was  regulars.  Now  it  is 
well  known  that  one  column  of  the  British  army  took  the  Beek- 
mantown  road  & that  this  column  was  opposed  both  in  its  advance 
& in  its  retreat  by  Militia  alone,  not  a regular  being  opposed  to 
that  column.  The  regulars  had  their  strong  works  to  retire  to,  & 
did  retire  to  them  upon  the  advance  of  the  other  column  of  the 
Army;  whilst  the  militia  both  in  retreat  & pursuit  were  exposed 
in  the  open  field  & suffered  most,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  ultimate 
return  of  killed  & wounded  of  the  New  York  & Vermont  Militia 
& Volunteers.  It  may  be  said  that  Macdonough’s  victory  caused 
the  retreat  of  the  British  land  force.  Still  that  detracts  from  the 
praise  due  the  regulars  who  were  in  the  works,  more  than  it  does 
from  that  due  the  Militia;  for  the  one  was  exposed  to  field  attack, 
& pursued  the  enemy  in  his  retreat,  & the  other  was  in  strong  works 
& did  not  pursue. 

Now  with  the  exception  of  Gen’l  Brown,  the  mention  of  whom 
could  not  be  avoided  because  he  commanded  the  army  not  a New 
Yorker  is  praised  or  even  mentioned,  & with  respect  to  Brown, 
even,  the  honor  of  the  mention  is  greatly  impaired  by  coupling 
subordinate  officers  with  him.  Nor  is  the  patriotism,  volunteers 
nor  militia  ot  the  State  mentioned,  altho,  at  the  time  the  President 
penned  his  message  nearly  thirty  thousand  of  the  yeomanry  of 
this  State  were  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  & without  whom 
two  of  their  armies  would  probably  have  been  lost,  & the  metropolis 
of  the  State  before  this  time  have  been  in  the  possession  of  the 
enemy. 

I am  far  from  detracting  from  the  services  of  the  gallant  Generals 
noticed  by  the  President.  It  is  of  the  injustice  done  to  others  by 
the  omission  of  their  names  & services  that  I complain.” 

The  late  Dr.  Austin  W.  Holden  of  Glens  Falls,  N.  Y.,  author  of 
the  “ History  of  the  town  of  Queensbury,”  in  his  Centennial  address 
said : 

“ The  success  of  the  American  troops  was  due,  in  a great  degree, 
to  the  boldness,  daring  and  bravery  of  the  militia,  who,  in  the  language 
of  their  opponents  ‘ did  not  know  enough  to  run,’  and  who,  from 


59 


‘ the  rent  and  bloody  fragments  of  a signal  defeat,’  gathered  the 
laurels  of  a signal  victory.” 

In  General  Macomb’s  General  Orders,  dated  Head-quarters, 
Plattsburgh,  Sept.  14,  1814,  he  says:  “At  the  same  hour  the  fleets 
engaged,  the  enemy  opened  his  batteries  on  our  forts,  throwing 
hundreds  of  shells,  balls  and  rockets,  and  attempted  at  the  same 
time  to  cross  the  Saranac  at  three  different  points  to  assault  the  works. 
At  the  upper  ford  he  was  met  by  the  militia  and  volunteers,  and 
after  repeated  attempts  was  driven  back  with  considerable  loss  in 
killed,  wounded  and  prisoners  * * * as  soon  as  his  retreat 

was  discovered,  the  light  troops,  volunteers  and  militia,  were  in 
pursuit,  and  followed  as  far  as  Chazy,  capturing  several  dragoons 
and  soldiers,  besides  covering  the  escape  of  several  hundreds  of 
deserters  who  continue  still  to  be  coming  in.  A violent  storm  and 
continual  fall  of  rain  prevented  the  brave  volunteers  and  militia 
from  further  pursuit. 

Thus  have  the  attempts  of  the  invaders  been  frustrated  by  a 
regular  force  of  only  fifteen  hundred  men,  a brave  and  active  body 
of  the  militia  of  the  State  of  New  York  under  General  Mooers, 
and  volunteers  of  the  respectable  and  patriotic  citizens  of  Vermont, 
led  by  General  Strong  and  other  gentlemen  of  distinction.  The  whole 
not  exceeding  two  thousand  five  hundred  men. 

I he  British  forces  being  now  either  expelled  or  captured,  the 
services  of  the  volunteers  and  militia  may  be  dispensed  with. 

General  Macomb  cannot  however  permit  the  militia  of  New  York 
and  volunteers  of  Vermont,  to  depart  without  carrying  with  them 
the  high  sense  he  entertains  of  their  merits.  The  zeal  with  which 
they  came  forward  in  defence  of  their  country,  when  the  signal  of 
danger  was  given  by  the  general,  reflects  the  highest  lustre  on  their 
patriotism  and  spirits.  Their  conduct  in  the  field  has  corresponded 
with  the  laudable  motives  which  led  them  into  it.  They  have  deserved 
the  esteem  of  their  fellow  citizens,  and  the  warm  approbation  of 
their  commanders.  They  have  now  exemplified  how  speedily  Amer- 
ican citizens  can  be  prepared  to  meet  the  enemies  of  their  country. 
In  testifying  his  sense  of  the  merits  of  the  troops,  the  general  cannot 
but  express  his  sorrow  and  regrets,  for  the  loss  of  some  brave  and 
virtuous  citizens,  and  for  those  who  have  been  wounded.  The  loss 
no  doubt  will  be  keenly  felt  by  their  friends  and  countrymen,  but 
at  the  time  will  be  borne  with  that  fortitude  and  resignation  which 
become  good  citizens  and  good  Christians. 

The  affection  of  the  general  will  accompany  his  brave  associates 
in  arms,  wheresoever  they  may  go,  nor  will  anything  give  him  more 
pleasure  than  opportunities  of  testifying  to  them  individually,  by 
actions  as  well  as  by  words,  the  high  regard  he  cherishes  for  them. 

The  general,  in  the  name  of  the  United  States,  thanks  the  vol- 
unteers and  the  militia  for  their  distinguished  services,  and  wishes 
them  a happy  return  to  their  families  and  homes.” 

ALEX.  MACOMB 


CHAPTER  Vi 


BUILDING  MACDONOUGH’S  FLEET  AT  VERGENNES 

It  was  clear  from  the  outbreak  of  the  War  of  1812  that  the  control 
of  Lakes  Erie,  Ontario  and  Champlain  was  of  prime  importance. 

Commodore  Macdonough  (at  that  time  a Lieutenant)  was,  on 
September  28th,  1812,  ordered  to  take  “ immediate  command  of 
the  naval  forces  on  Lake  Champlain.”  Macdonough  was  in  Port- 
land, Maine,  in  command  of  a division  of  gun  boats. 

He  left  Portland  October  5th.  Among  his  papers  is  a bill  for 
$75.00  for  the  use  of  a “ horse  and  chaise  from  Portland  to  Burling- 
ton, Vt.”  He  rode  on  horse  back  during  part  of  the  journey  — 
a method  of  travel  not  relished  by  sailors.  Macdonough  arrived 
at  Burlington  on  or  about  October  8th,  1812,  and  from  there  he 
crossed  to  Plattsburgh  to  confer  with  General  Dearborn  who  was 
objecting  very  strongly  to  the  appointment  of  an  independent 
naval  commander. 

Macdonough  went  to  Whitehall  from  Plattsburgh  on  October 
13th  and  began  at  once  with  great  vigor  to  fit  out  the  two  gunboats 
and  the  sloops  “ Hunter  ” and  “ Bull  Dog  ” for  service.  The  other 
three  sloops  were  found  to  be  too  old  to  carry  guns  and  they  were 
retained  by  the  War  Department  as  transports. 

Macdonough  went  into  winter  quarters  at  Shelburne  early  in 
December. 

On  December  12,  1812,  he  was  married  in  Middletown,  Con- 
necticut, to  Lucy  Ann  Shaler  and  took  her  back  with  him  to  spend 
the  winter  at  Burlington,  where  he  busied  himself  in  putting  his 
ships  in  a more  efficient  condition,  training  his  men,  etc. 

Early  in  the  summer  of  1813,  the  sloops,  “ Growler  ” and  “ Eagle,” 
formerly  the  “ Hunter  ” and  “ Bull  Dog,”  were  captured  near 
Isle  Aux  Noix  by  the  British  forces  — Lieutenant  Smith,  in  dis- 
obedience to  Commodore  Macdonough’s  explicit  orders,  having 
ventured  too  far  across  the  Canadian  boundary  line. 

This  disaster  sadly  crippled  Macdonough’s  little  fleet  and  gave 
the  British  the  immediate  control  of  the  Lake. 

Toward  the  end  of  June,  1813,  Macdonough  received  the  follow- 
ing order: 

SECRETARY  OF  THE  NAVY  TO  MACDONOUGH 

“ Navy  Department,  June  17,  1813. 

Sir:  I have  received  your  letter  of  the  4th  instant  announcing  the  unfortunate 
disaster  and  loss  of  the  two  sloops  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Smith  as  it 
would  appear  by  the  imprudence  of  that  officer,  of  which,  however,  you  will  inquire 
into  and  report  to  me  the  result. 

It  now  only  remains  to  regain  by  every  possible  exertion  the  ascendency  which 
we  have  lost,  for  which  purpose  you  are  authorized  to  purchase,  arm  and  equip  in 


60 


6 1 


an  effective  manner  two  of  the  best  sloops  or  other  vessels  to  be  procured  on  the  lake. 
I have  written  to  Commodore  Bainbridge,  commandant  of  the  navy  yard  at  Charles- 
town, Mass.,  to  send  on  to  you  20  18-pounder  carronades,  if  to  be  procured,  and  you 
are  authorized  to  make  such  requisitions  as  the  service  may  require  either  on  John 
Bullus  Esq.,  Navy  Agent,  New  York,  and  if  not  to  be  had  there,  upon  Mr.  Binney, 
the  N.  Agent  at  Boston,  to  whom,  when  you  write,  you  will  quote  this  authority. 

You  are  to  understand  that  upon  no  account  are  you  to  suffer  the  enemy  to  gain  the 
ascendency  on  Lake  Champlain,  and  as  you  have  now  unlimited  authority  to  procure 
the  necessary  resources  of  men,  materials  and  munitions  for  that  purpose,  I rely 
upon  your  efficient  and  prudent  use  of  the  authority  vested  in  you. 

General  Hampton,  an  officer  of  talent  and  energy,  is  appointed  to  the  military 
command  on  Lake  Champlain,  with  whom  you  will  heartily  co-operate  in  every 
measure  calculated  to  promote  the  objects  of  the  war.  But  you  are  to  observe  that 
the  naval  command  is  exclusively  vested  in  you  and  for  which  you  are  held  responsible. 
General  Hampton  will  afford  you  every  assistance  in  the  quartermaster’s  department 
with  mechanics,  laborers,  etc.,  and  if  you  deem  it  necessary  to  construct  4 or  5 barges 
of  50  or  60  feet  long  to  carry  a 12  or  18-pounder  carronade,  you  are  at  liberty  to  do  so. 

I shall  order  a purser  to  your  station  immediately. 

I am  very  respectfully  yours,  etc., 

W.  Jones.” 

On  July  24,  1813,  Lieutenant  Macdonough  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  Master  Commandant,  and  was  now  very  generally  given 
the  title  of  Commodore,  an  unusual  honor  for  a man  of  29. 

On  the  31st  of  July,  1813,  British  troops  to  the  number  of  1,000 
under  command  of  Lieutenant  Murray  emboldened  by  their  success 
in  capturing  two  of  our  vessels  proceeded  to  Plattsburgh  in  3 gunboats 
and  about  40  batteaux,  where  they  burned  a large  amount  of 
property.  They  also  visited  Burlington  and  other  points  on  the 
lake  destroying  property,  capturing  merchant  vessels  and  harassing 
the  people  in  every  possible  way. 

Perry  won  his  fight  at  Put-in-Bay,  Lake  Erie  on  September  10, 
i8i3- 

Naval  and  military  activity  in  the  lake  region  had  so  far  been 
confined  principally  to  the  great  lakes. 

Lake  Champlain  was  now  to  become  the  scene  of  important 
developments,  the  theatre  of  the  greatest  event  of  the  War  — the 
Battle  of  Plattsburgh, — one  of  the  turning  points  in  the  history 
of  our  country. 

Macdonough  had  gone  into  winter  quarters  at  Vergennes,  Vt., 
having  chosen  that  place  after  careful  consideration.  Vergennes 
was  situated  at  the  head  of  navigation  on  Otter  Creek,  seven  miles 
from  its  mouth,  with  a road  leading  directly  to  Burlington  22  miles 
north, — another  leading  to  Boston  about  225  miles  to  the  south- 
east,— and  one  to  the  south  leading  to  Troy  and  New  York. 

Among  the  industries  of  Vergennes  were  a blast  furnace,  an  air 
furnace,  eight  forges,  a rolling  mill  and  a wire  factory,  besides 
grist,  saw  and  fulling  mills. 

Vergennes  was  protected  by  the  troops  at  Burlington  on  the  north; 
Dead  Creek  and  its  contiguous  marshes  opposed  an  effectual  barrier 
on  the  west  should  the  enemy  attempt  to  land  a force  south  of  the 
mouth  of  Otter  Creek;  and  the  narrowness  and  crookedness  of  the 
latter  stream  precluded  the  possibility  of  an  attack  by  water.  Thus 
protected,  Macdonough  could  build  and  fit  out  his  vessels  with 
reasonable  certainty  of  not  being  molested. 


62 


fv,  Under  date  of  January  28th,  1814,  he  was  authorized  and  directed 
to  build  about  fifteen  gunboats,  or  a ship,  or  a ship  and  three  or 
four  gunboats,  as  he  thought  best.  In  those  days  before  the  advent 
of  the  railroad,  the  telegraph,  the  telephone  or  the  cable  and  when 
the  steamboat  was  generally  looked  upon  as  an  expensive  and  useless 
plaything,  it  was  necessary  to  allow  commanders  of  naval  or  military 
forces  the  widest  discretion. 

“ The  object,”  wrote  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  to  Macdonough, 
“ is  to  leave  no  doubt  of  your  commanding  the  lake  and  the  waters 
connected,  and  that  in  due  time.  You  are  therefore  authorized 
to  employ  such  means  and  workmen  as  shall  render  its  accomplish- 
ment certain.” 

As  early  as  February  8th  intelligence  reached  Vergennes  that 
the  British  were  building  at  Isle  aux  Noix  a vessel  to  carry  about 
twenty  guns;  also  several  smaller  vessels. 

BUILDING  THE  FLEET 

Work  at  Vergennes  went  forward  therefore  with  renewed  energy. 
Mr.  Browne,  the  shipbuilder  sent  up  from  New  York  City  by  the 
Navy  Department,  had  guaranteed  to  launch  a ship  of  24  guns 
in  sixty  days.  He  did  even  better.  On  March  2nd  the  “ Saratoga’s” 
timbers  were  standing  in  the  forest;  on  the  7th  her  keel  was  laid; 
and  on  the  nth  of  April  she  took  the  water  — FORTY  DAYS 
FROM  THE  LIVING  TREE  TO  THE  MAN  OF  WAR! 

Peter  Sadly,  Collector  of  Customs  of  Plattsburgh,  who  was 
keeping  track  of  the  movements  of  the  British  fleet  wrote  Commodore 
Macdonough  under  date  of  April  6th,  1814,  as  follows: 

“ We  are  apprehensive  that  they  will  pay  us  a visit  in  a few  days 
and  send  us  some  ol  their  heavy  balls  unless  they  go  first  to  the 
mouth  of  Otter  Creek  and  block  you  in.  They  may  take  every 
sloop  and  other  suitable  boats  on  this  lake,  load  them  with  stones 
and  sink  them  at  the  proper  place  up  the  river  and  keep  you  where 
you  are.  Whether  the  two  points  of  land  at  or  near  the  mouth 
of  that  river  can  be  fortified  by  strong  batteries  and  keep  them  off, 
you  best  know.  I think  the  whole  of  the  mercantile  shipping  and 
transports  ought  to  be  kept  together  at  some  protected  place  until 
you  can  contest  the  mastery  of  this  lake.  No  batteries  have  been 
erected  nor  can  now  at  Rouses  Point  nor  nowhere  to  impede  the 
sailing  of  our  enemy’s  floating  force.” 

Governor  Chittenden  of  Vermont  was  of  great  assistance  to  Mac- 
donough, and  the  militia  and  yeomanry  of  Vermont  responded 
nobly  to  the  Governor’s  call  for  volunteers  in  the  way  Vermonters 
always  have  responded  whenever  their  country  was  in  peril. 

Macdonough  erected  batteries  at  the  mouth  of  Otter  Creek  and 
fortified  the  place  (afterwards  called  Fort  Cassin).  On  May  14th 
the  British  fleet  made  an  attack  on  Fort  Cassin,  hoping  to  capture 
it,  blockade  the  creek  and  thus  prevent  Macdonough’s  fleet  from 
getting  out  to  the  lake.  The  British  were  driven  off. 

The  work  of  completing  the  vessels  was  rushed  with  all  possible 
speed  but  there  were  aggravating  delays  in  the  arrival  of  articles 


The  city  of  Vergennes,  Vt.,  as  it  looks  today.  Head  of  Navigation  on  Otter  creek, 
seven  miles  above  its  month 


Scene  on  Ottei  creek  about  half  way  from  Vergennes  to  mouth 


Mouth  of  Otter  creek,  near  Fort  Cassin,  where  British  attempted  a blockade 


64 


necessary  to  fit  the  vessels  out.  When  the  Saratoga,  Macdonough’s 
flagship,  was  launched  neither  her  guns,  anchors,  cables  nor  rigging 
had  been  received.  The  roads  were  so  bad  that  the  heavy  loading 
of  transport  wagons  was  impossible.  It  took  eighty  teams  to  carry 
one  consignment  of  naval  stores  from  Troy  to  Yergennes  and  then 
three  large  cables  were  left  behind.  A large  quantity  of  shot  were 
brought  from  Boston  and  one  thousand  32-pound  balls  were  cast 
at  Vergennes. 

Difficult  as  it  was  to  equip  the  squadron,  it  was  an  even  greater 
task  to  man  it.  Supplies  could  be  had  by  waiting  long  enough, 
but  it  seemed  almost  impossible  to  secure  enough  seamen.  Although 
recruiting  offices  were  opened  in  New  York  and  Boston  and  every 
other  available  source  drawn  upon,  on  May  5th,  the  squadron  was 
still  far  short  of  an  effective  working  force. 

On  May  26th,  1814,  the  Saratoga,  Ticonderoga,  Preble  and  six 
gunboats  sailed  out  of  Otter  Creek,  followed  sometime  after  by  the 
President,  Montgomery  and  four  more  gunboats.  Three  days  later 
the  squadron  came  to  anchor  off  Plattsburgh,  from  which  place 
Macdonough  made  the  following  report: 

MACDONOUGH  TO  SECRETARY  OF  THE  NAVY 

“ U.  S.  Ship  Saratoga  at  Anchor  off 

Plattsburgh,  May  29,  1814. 

Sir:  I have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  I arrived  off  here  to-day, 
and  having  been  informed  that  the  enemy  had  retired  to  the  Isle 
aux  Noix,  the  squadron  was  brought  to  an  anchor.  There  is  now 
a free  communication  between  all  parts  of  this  lake  and  at  present 
there  are  no  doubts  of  this  communication  being  interrupted  by  the 
enemy. 

I find  the  Saratoga  a fine  ship.  She  sails  and  works  well.  She 
is  a ship  between  the  Pike  and  the  Madison  on  Lake  Ontario.  The 
schooner  is  also  a fine  vessel  and  bears  her  metal  full  as  well  as 
was  expected.  1 he  galleys  are  also  remarkably  fine  vessels.  I have 
not  yet  my  complement  of  men,  but  as  fast  as  they  come  on  I shall 
relieve  the  soldiers  whom  I have  on  board  by  them.  I have  made 
it  known  to  Maj.  Gen.  Izard  that  the  squadron  is  ready  for  service. 

I have  the  honor  to  be  very  respectfully  your  ob.  servant. 

T.  Macdonough, 

Hon.  Willm  Jones, 

•Secretary  of  the  Navy.” 


The  British  had  heard  before  this  of  Macdonough’s  big  26-gun 
flagship  “Saratoga,” — -734  tons.  They  at  once  set  to  work  at 
Isle  aux  Noix  building  a 37-gun  vessel  named  the  “ Confiance  ” 
1,200  tons,  and  “ the  Commissary  General  and  Quartermaster 
General,  in  order  to  expedite  the  new  frigate  were  directed  to  suspend 
every  other  branch  of  the  public  service  which  interfered  with  its 
equipment.”  The  British  were  building  a fleet  with  which  they  felt 
certain  they  could  sweep  Macdonough  from  Lake  Champlain. 


65 


In  this  connection  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  “ Bon  Homme 
Richard  ” the  worn  out  French  East  Indiaman  in  which  John  Paul 
Jones  won  undying  fame  off  Flamborough  Head  on  the  high  seas 
was  a ship  of  only  about  950  tons,  wdiile  the  “ Serapis  ” the  British 
vessel  which  Jones  captured  in  that  same  desperate  encounter  in 
the  gathering  dusk  on  September  23  rd,  1779,  was  a vessel  of  approxi- 
mately 850  tons.  These  ocean-going  vessels  were  only  slightly 
larger  than  Macdonough’s  flagship  the  “ Saratoga  ” and  not  nearly 
so  large  as  Commodore  Downie’s  flagship  the  “ Confiance.”  In 
fact  the  famous  ships  “ Constitution  ” and  “Guerriere  ” were  only 
of  1500  and  1300  tons  respectively.  The  “ Saratoga  ” was  nearly 
twice  as  large  and  the  “ Confiance  ” nearly  three  times  as  large 
as  Perry’s  flagship,  “ Niagara,”  which  was  a vessel  of  only  480  tons. 

Macdonough’s  fleet  on  Lake  Champlain  had  a total  tonnage  of 
2,244  tons  as  compared  with  the  tonnage  of  1,671  tons  of  Perry’s 
Squadron  on  Lake  Erie.  Macdonough  had  882  men  and  86  guns 
while  Perry  on  Lake  Erie  had  only  512  men  and  54  guns. 

On  the  British  side  the  comparison  is  even  more  striking.  Com- 
modore Downie’s  British  fleet  went  into  the  Battle  of  Plattsburgh 
with  a tonnage  of  2402  tons,  with  937  men  and  92  guns.  Barclay’s 
fleet  which  opposed  Perry  at  Put-in-Bay  had  1,460  tons,  440  men 
and  63  guns.  It  will  be  seen,  therefore,  that  the  Battle  of  Platts- 
burgh, although  fought  on  a comparatively  small  fresh  water  lake 
was  a battle  of  first-rate  importance  from  every  view-point. 

THE  SUNDAY  BEFORE  THE  BATTLE 

Thus  the  summer  days  of  1814  went  by. 

A most  interesting  description  of  the  life  on  board  Macdonough’s 
fleet  at  this  time  was  written  by  Joseph  H.  Dulles  of  Philadelphia 
who  was  then  a student  at  Yale  College.  The  Fall  vacation  of  his 
closing  term  gave  him  an  opportunity  to  make  a pleasure  trip  through 
Lake  George  and  Lake  Champlain.  Bearing  in  mind  President 
Timothy  Dwight’s  injunction  — “Young  gentlemen,  in  planning 
your  journey,  you  will  remember  to  make  allowance  for  Sabbaths 
and  rainy  days” — he  arranged  to  spend  a Sunday  at  Plattsburgh. 
A friend  in  Burlington  had  given  him  a letter  of  introduction  to 
Macdonough. 

“ My  letter  being  delivered  to  the  commander  of  the  squadron,” 
Mr.  Dulles  writes,  “ I received  an  invitation  to  dine  and  spend  the 
day  on  board  the  flagship  on  the  following  Sunday.  That  was  the 
4th  of  September,  the  day  week  before  the  battle  of  Lake  Champlain. 
At  the  appointed  hour  the  Commodore’s  gig  was  ready  at  the  land- 
ing, and  I found  a companion  for  the  trip,  the  chaplain  of  the  army 
stationed  at  this  military  post,  but  who,  for  obvious  reasons,  pre- 
ferred to  exercise  his  function  on  board  the  ship  rather  than  among 
the  soldiers.  At  noon,  divine  services  were  performed,  the  com- 
mander and  officers  being  seated  on  the  quarter-deck,  the  chaplain 
at  the  capstan,  and  the  crew,  about  300  men,  occupied  the  room 
from  midships  to  the  bow.  All  was  orderly,  and  not  only  the  officers, 
but  the  crew,  showed  such  marked  attention  that  I expressed  my 


66 


surprise  to  the  Commodore.  He  replied,  ‘ The  men  do  behave 
well,  but  you  must  not  be  deceived  by  an  inference  that  it  is  from 
pious  feelings  altogether,’  adding,  with  a smile,  ‘ there  are  other 
considerations  controlling  their  conduct.’ 

“ I passed  some  time  with  the  younger  officers,  nearer  my  own 
age,  and  was  struck  with  the  palpable  evidence  of  the  one  pervading 
spirit  of  a master  mind  that  ruled  in  that  mass  of  volatile  young 
men  and  the  rude,  man-of-war  sailors.  The  cock,  so  celebrated 
in  the  history  of  the  battle  for  flying  up  to  the  yard-arm  and  crowing 
lustily  throughout  the  engagement,  attracted  my  attention  while 
he  paraded  the  deck.  To  my  simple  question  addressed  to  a little 
group  of  midshipmen,  ‘ What  do  you  think  about  the  coming  battle?’ 
a young  fellow  replied,  very  modestly,  ‘ We  know  the  British  force 
to  be  superior  to  ours,  but  we  will  do  our  duty.’  There  was  at  that 
fearful  moment  a calm,  resolute  composure  in  every  word  and  on 
every  face  that  assured  me  that  all  would  be  well.” 

“ Retiring  to  the  cabin,  Commodore  Macdonough  conversed  with 
singular  simplicity  and  with  the  dignity  of  a Christian  gentleman 
on  whose  shoulders  rested  the  weightiest  responsibility  that  bore 
on  any  man  in  that  period  of  our  history.  The  conflict,  inevitably 
to  occur  within  a few  days,  was  to  decide  the  most  important  issues 
of  the  war.  With  the  destruction  of  the  American  squadron  on 
Lake  Champlain,  the  British  army  was  sure  to  make  its  way  unob- 
structed to  Albany,  possibly  to  New  York,  and  probably  dictate 
the  terms  of  an  ignominious  peace.  That  army,  composed  of  14,000 
picked  soldiers,  fresh  from  victories  in  Spain  and  at  Waterloo, 
commanded  by  a picked  officer,  the  governor-general  of  Canada, 
was  on  its  march  southward,  supporting  and  being  supported  by 
the  naval  force  on  the  lake.  Macdonough  was  then  31  years  of  age, 
but  seemingly  several  years  younger,  of  a light  and  agile  frame, 
easy  and  graceful  in  his  manners,  with  an  expressive  countenance, 
remarkably  placid.  * * * The  confidence  of  his  officers  and 

men  in  him  was  unbounded,  and  such  as  great  leaders  only  can  secure. 
While  awaiting  the  dinner  hour  he  entered  freely  into  conversation 
on  religious  services  in  the  navy,  and,  among  other  things,  remarked 
that  he  regarded  the  Epistle  of  St.  James  as  peculiarly  adapted  to 
the  sailors’  mind;  the  illustrations  drawn  from  sea  life  — such  as 
‘ He  that  wavereth  is  like  a wave  of  the  sea  driven  with  the  wind,’ 
and  ‘ Behold  the  ships,  though  so  great,  are  turned  about  with 
a very  small  helm  ’ — are  very  striking,  and  then  the  plain  and 
forcible  manner  in  which  the  ordinary  duties  of  life  are  taught,  and 
the  sins  of  men  are  specified  and  condemned,  are  easily  compre- 
hended, even  by  men  as  little  instructed  as  seamen  usually  are.  My 
youthful  ears  were  all  attention  to  such  language  and  in  such 
associations.” 

iw  “,At  dinner  a blessing,  being  invited,  was  offered  by  the  chaplain, 
and  it  appeared  to  be  no  unusual  thing.  A considerable  number 
of  the  officers  attached  to  the  other  vessels  were  present  by  invi- 
tation, as  I was  told,  given  in  rotation.  In  the  midst  of  the  meal 
the  Commodore,  calling  attention,  said,  ‘ Gentlemen,  I mean  the 
sailor  gentlemen,  I am  just  informed  by  the  commander  of  the  army 


67 


that  the  signs  of  advance  by  the  British  forces  will  be  signalled  by 
two  guns,  and  you  will  act  accordingly.’  He  retired  from  the  table 
early  and  the  conversation  became  more  unrestrained,  and  when  one 
of  the  lieutenants  enforced  some  remark  with  an  oath,  an  officer 
sitting  near  him  immediately  exclaimed,  ‘ Sir,  I am  astonished  at 
your  using  such  language.  You  know  you  would  not  do  it  if  the 
Commodore  was  present.’  There  was  a dead  pause,  and  a seeming 
acquiescence  in  the  propriety  of  the  rebuke,  severe  as  it  was.  At 
the  close  of  the  day  the  strangers  were  brought  on  shore  and  the 
men  of  the  squadron  left  in  hourly  expectation  of  a battle.” 

On  the  following  Sunday  the  battle  was  fought  and  won  by  the 
brave  Macdonough  and  his  gallant  men, — ■ the  last  battle  ever 
fought  between  fleets  of  English-speaking  nations. 


T TO  COMMEMORATE 
PtmacdonougH’s  VICTORY 
THE  BRITISH  FLEET  UNDER  DO' 


IN  MEMORY 


Photo  by  Brush,  Plattsburgh,  N.  Y. 


Tablet  on  United  States  Post  Office  Building,  Plattsburgh,  N.  Y. 


CHAPTER  VII 


PLANS  FOR  CELEBRATION  AT  PLATTSBURGH 

The  Plattsburgh  Centenary  Commission  have  fixed  September 
6th  to  nth,  1914  as  the  dates  for  the  celebration  at  Plattsburgh, 
N.  Y.,  of  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  Battle  of  Plattsburgh. 

On  Sunday,  September  6th  appropriate  religious  ceremonies  will 
be  held  in  all  the  churches  in  Plattsburgh  and  vicinity  and  at  the 
Catholic  Summer  School  of  America  at  Cliff  Haven,  two  miles  south 
of  Plattsburgh.  Prominent  dignitaries  of  different  denominations 
are  expected  to  take  part  in  these  services. 

Monday,  September  7th  (Labor  Day)  will  be  devoted  to  ceremonies 
appropriate  to  Labor  Day. 

Tuesday,  September  8th,  there  will  be  appropriate  ceremonies 
at  Vergennes,  Vt.,  commemorating  the  one  hundredth  anniversary 
of  the  building  of  Macdonough’s  fleet  at  that  place. 

Wednesday,  Thursday  and  Friday,  September  9th,  10th  and  nth 
will  be  devoted  to  the  giving  of  an  historical  pageant,  and  on  Friday 
September  nth,  exercises  will  be  held  in  the  afternoon.  Many  of 
the  most  distinguished  men  of  the  nation  have  been  invited  to 
speak  on  this  occasion. 

I here  will  be  parades  on  land  and  on  the  lake  by  civic  and  military 
organizations;  hand  concerts  and  fire-works.  A banquet  is  planned 
for  one  of  the  evenings  of  the  week. 

HOW  TO  GO  TO  PLATTSBURGH 

The  Quebec-Miami  International  Highway  is  now  completed  from 
Washington,  D.  C.,  to  Montreal,  P.  Q.,  via  Baltimore,  Philadelphia, 
New  York,  Albany,  Saratoga  Springs,  Lake  George,  Lake  Champlain 
and  Plattsburgh.  Those  who  desire  to  make  the  trip  by  auto  to 
Plattsburgh  from  as  far  south  as  Washington  may  now  ride  over  a 
magnificent  stone  road.  It  is  probable  that  the  fine  new  section  of 
the  International  Highway  now  being  built  between  Richmond  and 
Washington  will  be  completed  on  or  before  September  1,  1914. 

Many  will  wish  to  make  the  trip  to  Plattsburgh  by  motor-boat. 
The  trip  up  the  Hudson  from  New  York  to  Albany  (150  miles)  and 
thence  via  Waterford  and  the  Champlain  canal  to  Whitehall  (52 
miles)  and  from  Whitehall  at  the  head  of  Lake  Champlain  down  the 
lake  to  Plattsburgh  (90  miles)  makes  a most  delightful  trip  of  292 
miles  through  a region  rich  in  places  of  historic  interest  and  of 
marvellous  scenic  beauty. 

Those  who  would  make  the  trip  by  motor-boat  from  the  Great 
Lakes  have  a choice  of  three  attractive  routes:  via  Buffalo  and  the 


68 


6g 


Erie  canal  to  Albany;  via  Oswego  and  the  Oswego  and  Erie  canals 
to  Albany,  or  via  the  St.  Lawrence  river  route  to  Montreal  and 
Sorel  and  up  the  Sorel  river  and  through  the  Chambly  canal  into 
Lake  Champlain  via  the  northern  entrance. 

Plattsburgh  is  on  the  Delaware  & Hudson  railroad  about  75  miles 
south  of  Montreal  and  about  150  miles  north  of  Albany.  It  is 
expected  that  special  rates  will  be  made  for  those  wishing  to  attend 
the  celebration  at  Plattsburgh  in  September,  1914. 

The  people  of  the  Champlain  valley  are  going  ahead  with  their 
plans  to  aid  in  a fitting  celebration  of  the  centennial  of  this  decisive 
battle  in  the  same  spirit  in  which  their  forefathers  fought  and  won 
the  battle — with  a determination  to  merit  the  hearty  approval  of 
the  entire  nation. 


Photo  by  Miss  Sarah  Weaver,  Plattsburgh,  N.  Y. 

Scene  of  Macdonough’s  victory  near  Plattsburgh  on  Lake  Champlain  looking  from 
Cumberland  Head  southwesterly.  Adirondack  mountains  in  distance 


CHAPTER  VIII 


A FITTING  PERMANENT  MEMORIAL 

The  crowning  achievement  of  the  War  of  1812  was  Macdonough’s 
victory  at  Plattsburgh.  Thereafter  the  supremacy  of  democracy 
and  the  progress  of  its  ideals  and  purposes  in  our  country  were  never 
again  contested  by  any  foreign  power.  Their  influence,  which  has 
spread  throughout  the  world,  has  become  the  leaven  of  progress 
everywhere  in  the  struggle  for  human  rights,  and  nations,  at  that 
time  hostile  to  their  existence,  long  since  have  come  to  recognize 
them  as  potent  factors  in  their  own  national  lives. 

Thus  we  find  warrant  for  the  honor  our  nation  and  the  State  of 
New  York  are  about  to  pay  to  the  memory  of  this  devout  Christian 
gentleman, — this  naval  hero  first  distinguished  at  Tripoli,  this  zeal- 
ous young  patriot, — who  on  September  n,  1914,  near  Valcour, 
where  the  British  had  won  the  first  battle  between  fleets  of  English- 
speaking  nations,  led  an  American  fleet  to  victory  in  the  last  naval 
battle  between  English-speaking  nations. 

The  State  of  New  York,  under  Chapter  95,  Laws  of  1914,  enacted 
April  3,  1914,  has  appropriated  #125,000  towards  the  celebration 
and  permanent  memorial  in  commemoration  of  the  victory  at 
Plattsburgh,  this  being  substantially  the  same  amount  appropriated 
in  1913  by  New  York  State  towards  the  celebration  and  permanent 
memorial  in  commemoration  of  the  Perry  victory  on  Lake  Erie. 

The  same  patriotic  feeling  that  actuated  the  nation  in  celebrating 
and  commemorating  the  victory  of  Perry  at  Put-in-Ray  impels  it  in 
equally  impressive  manner  to  celebrate  and  by  a fitting  memorial  to 
perpetuate  the  victory  of  Macdonough  at  Plattsburgh. 

Due  recognition  and  honor  for  events  and  men  great  in  our 
nation’s  history  attest  and  measure  the  greatness  of  the  present. 
They  supply  inspiration  and  incentive  for  still  nobler  achievements. 

No  fitting  expenditure  can  be  deemed  amiss  which  tends  to  stimu- 
late patriotism  and  deep  appreciation  of  worthy  deeds  which  made 
possible  the  nation’s  existence,  and  gave  nobility  to  its  national  life. 


Many  of  the  cuts  used  in  this  pamphlet  were  kindly  loaned  to  the 
commission  by  Rodney  Macdonough,  grandson  of  the  Commodore, 
and  author  of  “Life  of  Commodore  Thomas  Macdonough,  U.  S.  N.” 


70 


Photo  by  Brush,  Plattsburgh,  N.  Y. 


Date  Due 

.. 

L.  B.  Cat.  No.  1 137 

